No Hot Water in Building
For the past several days there has been no hot water in my building. This is the second time this has happened in 2010. My landlord is already aware of this situation, but is taking his time to get it fixed. From previous experience, the landlord has hired unlicensed workers to “fix” other problems, which…
For the past several days there has been no hot water in my building. This is the second time this has happened in 2010. My landlord is already aware of this situation, but is taking his time to get it fixed. From previous experience, the landlord has hired unlicensed workers to “fix” other problems, which continue to break down- I assume he is waiting for this unlicensed worker to fix this current problem. I quote him saying “The mechanic will come when he gets around to it.” The ground floor tenant said there was a terrible gas leak due to negligence. I assume this is why there is no hot water. I have already reported the issue to 311. When they have come to inspect the building in the past, they have mentioned that there were a lot of building violations.
How does a landlord get away with so many violations?
What would be a reasonable amount of money to deduct from my next rent check due to the lack of water heat?
What can I do or who can I call to fix the water heating issue?
This is one of many other building issues that continue to haunt me and the other tenants of the building.
Thank you!
you must be paying pennies in rent!
For the record, I am dealing with a very unprofessional landlord, who most probably does not have copies of my keys, considering he did not even have a copy of my lease when he was trying to issue me a lease renewal; To which he just gave me a new lease entirely. He seems to be dishonest and has harassed various tenants in the past.
I want to cooperate so that the issue gets fixed, but I do not want to be taken advantage of nor want to allow him to get away with bypassing laws, nor continue to get away with violations in the building.
Mostly per Landlord above. Major plumbing repairs require water to be turned off throughout building, but from basement/cellar, not from individual apartments. Except in emergencies, access to individual apartments requires specific advance notice, not general or standing notice. Your own landlord should already have a copy of your keys. See this link re: locks, access, tenants’ rights: http://bit.ly/a7JhpJ
@landlord
would it be a similar resolution to the issue of a broken boiler? or does that require a different procedure?
The water heater broke down in my building recently. They usually last around 10 years. The tenants did not have hot water that day. The next day a new water heater was installed by home depo (you don’t need a licensed plumber to install a new water heater). There is no reason for him to access any aparment to resolve a hot water issue. Everything he needs is located in the basement.
*UPDATE
This morning the landlord posted a note that said that the plumber needs access to all of the apartments, and that we need to give him a copy of our keys so that the plumber can come into our apartments and “fix” the water heating issue.
Does this sound strange to anyone else?
Keep calling 311. Per Arkady, be sure to keep a record of the dates and times you call, as well as a copy of the complaint number(s) they issue. See these two fact sheets on heat and hot water:
DHCR: http://bit.ly/dvUhgy
HPD: http://bit.ly/9MpuLZ
Keep notes of calls you make & jot down the complaint numbers you’re given. Get in touch w/ your Community Board to ask who else should be told about the situation. Did Nat’l Grid check the gas leak? Has the gas line been sealed? If so, I’d think there are other agencies that you can call on.
i am in a rent stabilized apartment and have been reporting it to 311.