Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

[ODogg]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

It'll end up going to court I think. I agree about the moving aspect. I'm wondering if they will evict me now after my lease ends just because of this. Of course it would just be a non-renewal of lease, not an eviction but basically it ends up being the same thing. When I talked to the owner she said that this was all business and there would be no vindictiveness but I get a completely different vibe from the Realty Company. It's utterly absurd if it comes to that as I've always paid my rent 2 to 3 months ahead of time but I think that I could see them doing that.

[ODogg]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

Update - Thursday I asked my landlord if they could install a temporary window unit as it was going to be in the 80's over the weekend. The apt. owner had said they'd gladly do that if it got hot. So I get this message back:

From: Deborah Rogers
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 10:23 AM
To: Hough, Shaun;
Subject: Re: Temporary A/C request

I just pulled up the weather forecast for Westerville and the weather forecast from The Columbus Dispatch. Both are reporting the highest temperature to be on Friday at 77 degrees.

That being said, I have both companies continuing their effort to receive the necessary part. Our plan at this time is to install a window unit on Friday or hopefully install the part and have the ac working properly.

Notice the smart aleck comment at the start of the email. They had said if it got up over 80 they'd give me a temp a/c and she has to say "well it's going to be 77" as if she's going all lawyerly on me or something..*rolls eyes*

Anyways, the central air people show up Friday. I ask them if they're going to install a window unit and they don't know what I'm talking about, they are there to fix the A/C. I say...ok cool, as that's what would be ideal anyways. They do have the part (funny how they come up with this part really fast when the escrow part is quickly approaching for June 1 isn't it?) and go ahead and wield it in and then fill the tank with freon.

After about an hour and a half they take readings from the vents and say they believe the unit to be fixed. Then the conversation turns ominous as the lead technician expresses doubt about the longevity of the compressor in the external unit. I'll never forget his words, he said "That compressor is suspect, it could last 10 minutes...or it could last 10 years". So the guy says it could need replaced for sure, tells me to give the place a couple of hours to cool down and leaves.

My girlfriend and I are playing Red Dead Redemption in the den and it's cool. I think, yes!! finally fixed!! THANK YOU!! but then we walk up stairs a few hours later and it's hot, muggy and about 78 still. I begin to get worried. We go to sleep and I tell her, if it's still hot in the morning then obviously it ain't fixed. Wake up the next day and it's 84 degrees and it's apparent it's not fixed.

So I call the heating and cooling place. They tell me to call back Monday morning. I endure mildly sticky temperatures all weekend, we pretty much have to stay in the den where it's cool. This morning I email the realty place and get no reply. I called the heating and cooling company and they are coming back out here at 5pm.

Now maybe i'm being cynical or negative here but I'll bet the compresser will need replaced. And from what I gather that's pretty much the heart of the unit (from what I googled) and will cost a small fortune. I'm wondering if that is the case will the landlord be dragging their feet on trying to figure out a cheaper way for another two months or what? Hopefully maybe it's just something small though that needs adjusted. I'm meeting them at 5:30pm and we'll see.

I may have to put my rent for June in escrow after all, although I hope they can just fix it tonight. And with temperaturs in the high 80's tomorrow, if it's not fixed i'm going to have to get a small window unit no question. I can't leave my dog there when the temps will be above 95 in that house all day long.

[p_rushing]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

Most of them will require that they fix the unit as much as possible. Doesn't matter if they replace every part, most of the "insurance" companies require it to be done that way. They never want to pay for a new unit.

[stlstudios189]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

wow this is still going on?!!!

[RubenDouglas]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

can you talk to the news about this? theres always those investigative anchors that get these sort of issues resolved

[Brandwin]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

can you talk to the news about this? theres always those investigative anchors that get these sort of issues resolved

Good idea. There's always someone who likes to get the scoop on a company or someone else.

[42]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

can you talk to the news about this? theres always those investigative anchors that get these sort of issues resolved

He'll do it!

[deaduck]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

Now maybe i'm being cynical or negative here but I'll bet the compresser will need replaced. And from what I gather that's pretty much the heart of the unit (from what I googled) and will cost a small fortune. I'm wondering if that is the case will the landlord be dragging their feet on trying to figure out a cheaper way for another two months or what? Hopefully maybe it's just something small though that needs adjusted. I'm meeting them at 5:30pm and we'll see.

The only real adjustment outside the compressor being fried would be freon (R-22) leaking. Either one isn't that bad unless they have to replace the R-22 with a new drop in additive. That could get pretty high.

[ODogg]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

Well they came back out tonight and the compressor is bad. Later on a guy from the realty place came and put a small window A/C unit in my bedroom. So now my bedroom is 70 and cool but the rest of the house is muggy and hot.

I must say I'm a little worried now that we know it's the compressor as it will be very expensive. I'm wondering if they will go through this big process of trying to get more opinions and not wanting to pay the money.

I'm also not sure what to do about paying rent into escrow now. I know that they will use the window a/c as a means to say that they should be able to collect rent. I don't want to be a d1ck about things but I also want to put pressure on them to get the central air fixed. I hope they don't consider this situation much less dire now because of this.

I'm leaning toward paying them June rent and then if the central air is not repaired by the start of July putting that money into escrow. But then I'm not sure about taking that card off the table either..it didn't seem anything got much done until I threatened to not pay rent to them for June, then all of a sudden I have several visits and action taken immediately...

[p_rushing]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

Don't pay, its not fixed. 1 window unit doesn't cool the rest of the house. If you pay, you can kiss any chance of getting it fixed goodbye. Check with your lawyer though if they legally satisfied their responsibilities by putting in a window unit though.

[FlyingFinn]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

Just move already... I mean is this rental place really worth this much trouble.

[Stu]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

Just move already... I mean is this rental place really worth this much trouble.

Seriously, they said they would release you from the lease. If it's that big of a deal to you, just move.

[ODogg]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

I can't move, my contract ends at the end of the year and I'm not going to spend several thousand dollars on moving when I just moved into this place in the fall

[ODogg]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

The consensus here at work is that I should put my rent into escrow. Because although they did install one window unit in my place, the central air is still not fixed. That is what I intend to do at this point I think.

[mgoblue]

Re: Landlord won't fix my A/C - any ideas?

The consensus here at work is that I should put my rent into escrow. Because although they did install one window unit in my place, the central air is still not fixed. That is what I intend to do at this point I think.

That works, but they did give you the window unit and are trying to move faster, so I wouldn't be a total dick to them at this point...