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.
THL, assuming the minimum heating requirement is being met then a space heater is a good solution (the kind that doesn’t incinerate the house) for all. The LL doesn’t have to waste money/resources by bumping up the thermostat to heat just one room, and the tenant can decide for him/herself just how much to add to the cost of the electric bill.
Maybe check the vent sizes in the radiators, assuming you have steam heat. The vents have several sizes; number 4 being the smallest and D being the largest. By putting a larger vent in her radiators, cool air will vent from the system faster allowing hot steam in sooner. You can also put a smaller vent on the radiator where the thermostat is located, slowing the steam to that area thereby leaving the system on a little longer.
steve
http://www.thetinkerswagon.com
Not be able to control my heat during winter is one of the top 5 reasons why I bought, and opted out of renting.
It doesn’t matter what we think is comfortable. Vulcan’s like 90 degrees. NY law sets the require temp in the apartment. Its 68 during the hours specified about and 55 at night. If the apartment is at that temp its lawful. if the tenant wants more its their dime. If the apartment is less, you need to get it up to code. Water in the pipes are causes for it not working properly but so far no one knows whether its ok (in the sense of being at the lawful temp) or not.
I can’t see how a landlord isn’t obligated to provide heat throughout the apartment- Bathrooms need heat in the winter. Expecting a tenant to put up with a freezing cold bathroom is unreasonable. I don’t expect the landlord to put in radiant heat flooring at least try to address the problem, not blame the tenant for it.
But as rob says- in this case- the tenant should rediscover blankets (and sweaters.)The OP is providing heat (and 73 degrees will be very expensive). Maybe its just a simple matter of checking for drafts.
Peopl are very different in terms of what they consider warm or cold. To me, indoors 68 is chilly. In summer however the tables are reversed of course.
65 is more than comfortable at night. there’s this litle invention invented in china a gazillion years ago called BLANKETS!
*rob*
73 is too hot in the day time, 65 is too low in the night…..try a different spread and don’t go lower than 67 at night if you want to collect a good rent from any tenant….
“what I’d consider equitable”
sorry, no, if LL provides heat according to specs and tenant wants more, she should pay for it. It’s like the cold bath situation from yesterday. I don’t think LL is obligated to put heat in the bath.