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Tenancy Problems - Responsibilities
Q:
Quick question. My patio window was shattered during the night. I can't see any evidence of someone throwing a rock or anything. I know I didn't cause the damage myself (no one or nothing ever hit the window from the inside). Am I responsible for fixing it or is the landlord? |
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A:
Your situation will likely be taken care of under the landlord's insurance policy, which should provide for damage such as accidental broken windows.
If your situation is 'urgent and necessary' you could undertake an emergency repair, but you have a couple of obligations first - you must genuinely attempt to reach the landlord at least twice at the numbers he has provided; you must detail and document the circumstances of the repair, the date, time, etc., and if you can't raise the landlord at the numbers provided you can engage repairmen. Where you do, you must advise the landlord as early as possible because he is ultimately responsible for the costs and can take over the repair that you arranged.
In situations where the landlord can't be located, the repair is made, and it comes time to pay the next month's rent, the tenant can deduct monies paid for the emergency repairs and the landlord can't evict the tenant for doing so ? if you go this route make sure you have detailed and scrupulous records so that conflict and challenge can be avoided. |
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