Still No Cooking Gas in Apartment
This is an update from my previous post from May 21, 2010. Since that day we still have no cooking gas in our apartment because of a gas leak in our pipe. Mechanics came at one point last week to find the leak to no avail. They made a giant hole in our wall behind…
This is an update from my previous post from May 21, 2010.
Since that day we still have no cooking gas in our apartment because of a gas leak in our pipe. Mechanics came at one point last week to find the leak to no avail. They made a giant hole in our wall behind our stove to check the pipes, and the leak was not there- and the hole has yet to be repaired.
Since then the landlord kept us waiting since it was a holiday weekend starting Friday, yet today, Tuesday, no one has come to find the leak.
The mechanics mentioned they wanted to make a hole in the business below our apartment to see if the leak was in the bottom part of the pipe, but I know they encountered difficulty from the business owner, since they said they didn’t want anyone making holes in their walls.
On Thursday the 27, our landlord loaned us a propane cooking unit to use outside, which we have been the times it hasn’t rained.
We have paid our rent on time for the past 3 years- but this month we are planning on waiting for the gas pipe to be fixed before paying.
It has been around 11 days without being able to cook in our kitchen. Should I deduct part of the rent?
Thanks for advice!
Hm, odd. Can you talk to your landlord? Just say you’re getting antsy and you know these things take time, but which plumber has he engaged, and why does the web site say nothing about a permit filed? Maybe the plumbers haven’t filed yet?
I spoke to department of buildings and they said it may take 2 weeks to go through. But the LL lied to me about it waiting to be approved, since the website says nothing about a pending permit.
I really don’t want to have to file an HP action in court….
The plumbers should be the ones filing for the permit, right? And Boulder, any idea how long that takes? A week or two or three? The actual pipe work should take only a day or two.
why not get a coupla hot plates? Could be an adventure, you know, like camping. Do you really use the oven in summertime anyway? 1000x inventive meals can be made on the hot plates, micro, and toaster oven… especially if you are “cooks”. Frankly, I’d be more worried about an impending explosion rather than the inability to roast a chicken. Perhaps next year you will look back on the experience and have a laugh. 4 years ago I spent an entire winter in an apt so cold I could see my breath. And I can laugh about that now (but probably bc I left)…..I encourage you to seek the help of the free tenant rights services, but you are choosing to stay in this situation so…….ce la vie.
Looks like your rent got lost in the mail.
So I just learned you can check what permits and violations your building has in the department of building website. Guess what, no work permit has been filed since 2009! Now what?
As annoying as it may be, I’d second the notion that 11 days to fix a serious and complicated problem isn’t insane. Withholding rent out of blue may cause blowback. A lawyer could tell you more but as first step I’d send registered – polite letter – explaining that you’re incurring considerable expense in the realm of $XXX per week and you need to get a date by which it’ll be fixed.
tybur6, it probably seems longer for us since we usually live in the kitchen and cook all meals, and it is understandable that this type of reparation takes time. However there has been no progress and no site of workers since they made the hole in my wall on may 21. I have persistently asked my landlord and he just says “I’m waiting for work permit, I don’t know how long it takes and when it will be fixed.” Which is frustrating- if he told me sorry it will take long i have them lined up for these dates… I wouldn’t be as frustrated. I am not seeing progress or work getting done.
11 days doesn’t seem that long… as long as they are making some sort of progress. Have you asked the landlord what the schedule is? Ask him when he has workers scheduled… what type and when are they coming.