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maytagbear

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I cannot believe it is happening again.

For the second time in a WEEK, the furnace for my apartment is not working! It is in the LOCKED basement, or I'd grab my butane candle lighter...

On the other hand...it is the landlord's property.....and why should I have to relight a potentially dangerous furnace?

It's 2:38 am right now, the outside temperature is slightly colder than refrigerator temperature (high 30sF, 3-4C). I am going to wait until around 6 am to start calling.

A few years ago, the Gas company (Dominion-East Ohio) was out here on an unrelated matter, and he said that it was older than I was (I was 44 at the time).

It's an "Armstrong." (Regional brand?)

Last year, the landlord replaced the thermocouple, after SEVERAL failures....

I am not a happy camper.

I am tempted to demand, with a lot of "please"es, but demand none-the-less either a new furnace, or at least a visit from a real heating contractor.....I think a visit from a real furnace guy is not too much to ask? (Landlords, what sayest you?)

If I had a working electric heater, I would have the thing running right now. I do not.

Dear Boristhecat has been jumping in and out of my arms...I think he wants my body heat as much as I want HIS :)

I have on a t shirt, long sleeve polo shirt, a sweater, my jeans, socks and shoes and am thinking about putting on some gloves.

Arrrgh! I do not bother my landlord with things like replacing flourescent tubes, or dripping faucets. I replace the flourescent tubes, and a friend from church who trained as a plumber (but currently works in sales) sees to the faucets...so I am not calling my landlord for everything every two minutes.....

Thanks for reading. Really.

Lawrence/Maytagbear from the polar ice
 
Suggest you use as much honey as can flow in those cold temps. Since this seems to be a repetitive problem, you might want to back up the information you are giving your landlord with a polite, brief letter, which includes the date, nature of outtage, and duration of outtage, and how it affected the habitability of your home (like the temperature inside the apartment in the morning with no heat). Do this for each and every outtage. Once you get a paper trail, you'll have some unspoken leverage to get the landlord to fix the thing properly.

I'm not a lawyer and nothing above should be construed as legal advice.
 
Hi Lawrence.
While I'm not personally involved in any property management my partner is/was bigtime and I'm friends with a few of his employees over the years so I hear all the nightmare stories.

Bottom line is you sound to be an excellent tenant, a landlords dream who would be a fool to not make things right in order to keep you living there.

Can't speak for Ohio but each province and state has from neare zero to very very stringent landlord/tenant rules and regulations. Alberta was pretty lax and the landlord could get away with a lot of neglect. Here in Ontario it is totally the opposite and is very tightly controlled as to what the landlord can do and can't do. It even stipulates the lowest temperature a suite can be maintained. You must find out how things are controlled, if at all, in Ohio. But in the meantime be nice about it as much as you can and REMIND the guy of all the stuff you do on your own like minor plumbing repairs etc., how much you like the place but you need heat otherwise you may have to think about moving...careful on that one.. incase he wants you out.. LOL
 
~If I had a working electric heater, I would have the thing running right now. I do not.
May I suggest a raditor-like electrical one? Probably one of the safest.

Heat in your area is a necessity for survival, not a luxury.
You have every right to expect a realiable, working furnace.

I'm not sure what kind of lease you have or if some gov't organization by you regulates rents(as exists here). One caveat is that many landlords love to raise the rent after a major outlay of cash.

Stay warm!
 
~It is in the LOCKED basement, or I'd grab my butane candle lighter...

"Mr. Landlord, perhaps I need a key to the basement/furnace room since the furnace is old and unreliable, so that I or the utlity can keep relighting it. I dont think it's right that you have to keep coming out here.....:

It always helps to add the WIFM. "What's in it for me" [Meaning from the landlord's point of view.]
 
This sounds unacceptable - I own a couple of houses that I rent out and I couldn't look myself in the mirror if I thought that the people living there were freezing. I never had any first hand experiences, but the Rental Board here in Quebec will step in to resolve issues that have deteriorated a tenant's living conditions (just like Pete mentioned is the case in Ontario). And you sound like a more than reasonable tenant - if the situation doesn't get resolved quickly, find out if there is any kind of regulation in Ohio that could help you out here.
Herbal teas are good to help keep the hands warm...
And don't try what my late grandmother did once - don't dial the oven temp up and leave the oven door open. My mom's 1955 Frigidaire electric range had its thermostat permanently thrown out of whack by that!
 
I do know that it is not permitted for you to be without heat entirely if the landlord's responsibility is to provide it (how MUCH heat he decides to provide is another story)...

For this reason, DO run out and buy an oil-filled radiator, but it might be the better part of wise to just roll it on into the closet if Mistah Landlord or any gossipy repairmen happen by...

The last thing he needs to know is that you HAVE a heating source for the weekend (which conveniently runs on your dime...)

Good luck. Stay warm.
 
Heat is on... FOR NOW

I called at 6 am, and again at 7 am, leaving messages (polite ones) on his machine both times.

Decided to go back to bed for a while...I got up a few minutes ago...10:55 am, and the heat is on..for now.

I have the thermostat set somewhat higher than I would really like, but am afraid to lower it, lest the pilot, etc go out again. Which has been known to happen.

Thanks to all of you who have offered support and made suggestions. I'm currently thinking about one of those Sunbeam brand "Cuddle Up" heated lap robes instead of a heater. (Pity they're a bit beyond Secret Santa's suggested budget) :) :) :) :)

A tenant's association? In a university town??? There is only a very thin layer of what I call "residential" renters here in Kent. When KSU staffers get tenure (academic), or a contract (non-academic) they buy, townies who can, buy, and the student rentals are considered money machines.

I still don't trust the furnace, however!

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
Here's the Ohio Tenancy act

you might want to spend a little time reading over this. It looks fairly comprehensive. Anyways before I would go spouting off any "I've read the Act" to the landlord be sure your interpretation is correct.
 
It always helps to add the WIFM.....

Lawrence,
Toggle is 150% right on this one! It's all about the WIFM Factor. In a past life, I had a few properties that I rented out. And depending on the tenant, I admit, I would be more or less reluctant on making upgrades or improvements (including replacements) to the properties.

In San Diego County, there are certain requirements that a landlord must follow. Period. I'm sure it's the same in Ohio. Admittedly, a heater may not be a life-critical element in my area compared to yours, but a landlord must have a working heater. (As well as a stove, and depending on an area, an A/C unit).

By your description, it’s clear to me that your furnace issue has been going on for some time. This causes me to reflect on what the “real” motives are (from the landlord’s point of view). While a few come to mind, it is clear that what you need to do, and Sudsmaster is correct also: document; document; document. I can’t stress it enough! Verbal communications are fine, but remember, people tend to “forget” conversations. By communicating in writing, you do several things: 1) Put the landlord on notice; 2) Describe the issue; 3) Document the fact that you have notified the landlord of the problem.

Remember too, your documenting the issue doesn’t have to be mean, nasty or threatening. State the facts and add the WIFM factor. It should work. If not, then hey, you’ve started a documentation trail that will help you in the future.

Another suggestion is for you to look into “Renter Rights”. In your area, I’m sure that government agencies (such as local, county, or state) have laws and requirements in place that will aid you in correcting this situation. It’s better to have a trump card waiting, then to expect miracles from landlords.

Just my 2 cents.
Stay warm.
 
The bacon grease froze solid!

One thing that I dont understand:

Why is it that most homes and/or apts. don't have a back-up fan-forced heavy-duty electic built-in wall-heater for just such eventualities? They'd be on the TENANT'S meter..........
If I were a landlord, I'd make sure each unit had one.

I remember living off campus in college when the central heating sysytem went out in the apartment buildng in which I resided. IIRC it went out at something like 4pm on a Friday 12/29.
No repair Saurday
No repoir Sunday
No repair Monday (01/01/8x)

and it was a cold miserable week of ice-storms!

Got us a convection-type electric heater without any visible glowing red coils (nor parablolic radiant reflectors, and electric blanket) and made-do!

We showered on campus and had big elaborate breakfasts as an excuse to put the oven on for an hour or so!
 
Guess what?

No, guess!

Come on, you can guess better than that!

I am beginning to wonder if the thing is not only defective but unsafe.

I was as icily polite on the landlord's answering machine as it is icy in this apartment.

If I could only get into the basement, I would CALL my own heating contractor, and have them bill him.....

Lawrence/Polarbear
 
On...for NOW

This is getting a bit ridiculous.

The landlord did not have the grace or the guts (?) to come to my door....but the heat is on for now.

I am running the dryer (mixed dark cottons) and the dishwasher (utility load, mostly casserole dishes and silverware.) and they are helping.

However, I wonder what it will take to get a heating guy out here or a new furnace.

Lawrence/(a defrosting) Maytagbear
 
Withholding rent can get you evicted regardless of your circumstance. As I attached a copy of Ohios landlord/tenancy laws you have to pay the full rent regardless or face eviction. If the landlord refuses to maintain proper sanitation and heat you can apply to have your rent paid to the courts who will hold it pending the satisfactory repair or have it repaired. The tenant cannot act on his own.
 
Good point, Pete. In California, I believe it is legal for tenants to withold part of the rent to cover repairs needed to maintain habitability if the landlord is negligent in these respects and has been given adequate notice. Ohio renters are not so fortunate. However I couldn't cite the law so everyone must seek their own legal advice in such matters.
 
Didn't you already start out with a 6am call?

~This is getting a bit ridiculous.
The landlord did not have the grace or the guts (?) to come to my door....but the heat is on for now.

First time it goes out overnight, 9am call.
Second time it goes out overnight, 8am call.
Third time it goes out ovenight, 7am call.

etc. When you 've gotten to 3am. Stay there.

If he were smart he'd get a maintenance contract/agreement and give you their number. With a really good contract they'd replace what they can't repair, and he'd make his premiums back.

BTW In NYC a landlord can charge a rent-regulated tenant 1/40th of the cost of a new "this and that." So a new stove @ $400 would get the rent raised $10 per month forever.

Landlords break their necks to get the rent to $2,000 per month by this method. At that point the apartment becomes deregulated, permanently. I have seen central-air condtioning, granite amd marble, fireplaces, electric ovens and gas cooktops, W&D and I do mean TOL stuff. The "gotcha" is the labor charges!

Good luck Lawrence.
 

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