Landlord refuses to make repairs unless tenant pays

After getting earlier advice from a standard lawyer, I interviewed three tenant/ real estate specific lawyers and hired one to represent me. All three felt the landlord was clearly responsible and I could even pursue damages.

Since it was asked, we do not have an ice maker, under sink waterfilter, dishwasher. or through wall A/C unit anywhere near this. There is not a humidifier either.

jacquelyn.grant

in General Discussion 8 years and 2 months ago

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Guest User | 8 years and 2 months ago

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In which case, might not the landlord’s insurance cover the damage?

boredatwork | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Old houses settle. New houses settle. The earth settles. Doors and windows go out of plumb. Floors rarely buckle like that without water, lack of curing of the flooring, and/or an incredibly poor installation.

IMBY | 8 years and 2 months ago

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The wood is expanding due to a change in moisture content. The buckling is caused when the wood expands from the moisture and has no place to go but up. Usually there is a gap between the floor boards and any immovable object (like a wall) left by the original installer that would prevent this from happening. The wood would swell into this gap. The gap is covered by the baseboard moldings. This swelling and contacting is seasonal. Sometimes your type of damage can happen from wood that was not properly left to acclimate before installing. I would bet that your damage is being caused by water. Do you have an ice maker, under sink waterfilter, dishwasher. or through wall A/C unit? If you did not have a flood or mop the floors with excess water you have a leak. It may be leaking without your knowledge. Normal wear and tear does not cause this type of damage but if you have the habit of leaving your windows open during rain storms I would say your land lord may have a point. I have seen damage like this caused by tenant’s portable humidifier used during the dry heat winter months.

yudashasom | 8 years and 2 months ago

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You can clearly see water damage in the photo near the wall. Is that an exterior wall?

jacquelyn.grant | 8 years and 2 months ago

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After getting earlier advice from a standard lawyer, I interviewed three tenant/ real estate specific lawyers and hired one to represent me. All three felt the landlord was clearly responsible and I could even pursue damages.

Since it was asked, we do not have an ice maker, under sink waterfilter, dishwasher. or through wall A/C unit anywhere near this. There is not a humidifier either.

jacquelyn.grant | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Since it was asked, we do not have an ice maker, under sink waterfilter, dishwasher. or through wall A/C unit anywhere near this. There is not a humidifier either.