Tenant Heat Complaint
I have a new tenant who moved in this month. She kept complaining that the apartment is not warm enough, so I increased the temperature to 73 degree from 6 am to 10 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 6 am the thermostat is set to 65 degrees. She leave on the 1 floor lower…
I have a new tenant who moved in this month. She kept complaining that the apartment is not warm enough, so I increased the temperature to 73 degree from 6 am to 10 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 6 am the thermostat is set to 65 degrees. She leave on the 1 floor lower ceiling the apartment–this apartment got warm pretty fast . I had 3 previous tenants and never had any complain about the heat.
I got her a small heater 2 days ago and she call me today to complain again. I don’t know what to do any more. I told if she is not happy she can break the lease.
Now there is a section on the lease who say the fallowing utilities are include in the rent .heat,hot water and gas.
I call National grid about it and they say that gas is for hot water and heat.
Not for the cooking.
The lease do not stipulate cooking , my tenant alway pay they cooking gas they have a separate meter only for the cooking.
Let me know what is my right.
Thanks
you better tell her that the heat you provide is at the minimum required by law. Tell her the law and talk with your insurance company about when to notice them. You are about to be sued for her “illness”.
Unfortunately your offer to break the lease may be viewed as an admission that the apartment was not habitable. Use the chance to clarify. Tell her that the apartment when you checked it was at x temp and that you are sure the apartment has always been heated to the required levels. Ask her if she has kept a temperature log.
Again the law is that the apartment has to be 68 from 6am to 10 pm if the temperature is less than 55 outside and 55 from 10pm to 6 am.
In slight defense of this girl, I have to say that I am also constantly cold, and would probably go insane if the heat were set to 68. Like other posters have mentioned, I own instead of rent – and I took it a step further by buying a place with central heat/AC. Some people are just always cold (OK, mostly women). However, she doesn’t seem like she’s willing to lay out her own dime for her comfort, which sounds suspicious. Also, her email was very melodramatic (“I will have access to e-mail while I recuperate, but am unable to talk.”). I say let her break the lease and move on!
The window is in the bathroom and it is seal and there is a door . the window is located bt the annex and the bathroom, i was in the apartment and the temperature was 76 now at midnight with a outside temperature of 46..
This is the kind of tenant that no one want to have.
She have been here for 2 weeks and this is what is going on ever since.
The radiator are drain since i place new valve 3 week ago.
the window is in the bathroom,and it is seal . i was in the apartment today and the temperature in the apartment is above 73 degree.
So OP what’s up with the window? You didn’t mention that before.
i did check the temperature in her apartment it is warmer than the 2 floor where the thermostat is located, when is 68 on the 2 floor it is 73 in her apartment, the second floor had foot 14 foot ceiling her apartment had low ceiling.
the radiator have been drain.
She have been complaining since she move in.
this is the email she send me have a look.
I want to give you notification that you can enter my apartment anytime during the day after first knocking with your spare keys, as I was only give one set. I have come down extremely sick as I was discussing with you, and am staying somewhere where I will not be affected by the draft. If it is 69 degrees on the 3rd floor, heat rises. You can imagine how cold it is on the first floor where there is a “window” which I can fit half of my hand through closed! It is just as tedious for me to contact you as it is for you to listen to the complaints. I was using the heater that you provided, but I, of course, the bill for it will come in my name and heating the outside through those drafts will get expensive very quickly. You have my permission to enter as you would like this week, please notify me via e-mail of when you will be available to do this.
I would also like written clarification about my lease which reads: “B. The following utilities are included in the rent heat, hot water and gas”. If I am correct, the heat is provided by home heating oil and possible the gas as well? Please provide me with this information as soon as possible. I will have access to e-mail while I recuperate, but am unable to talk.
What did you mean when you said that you do not care if I break the lease? I look forward to hearing from you soon about sealing the first floor and the details of my lease.
“Not be able to control my heat during winter is one of the top 5 reasons why I bought, and opted out of renting”.
Me too CCB. I set my heat at 65 day, 55 night. I hate overheated houses (plus, I’m CHEAP). No tenants to complain 🙂
Check the vents to be sure they are not clogged with debris. When the system is sending steam, these vents should vent cool air until the radiator fills with steam. if they are not hissing when the system begins to push steam and are not shutting off when the steam hits them, they are defective or dirty.
steve
http://www.thetinkerswagon.com