How to get your landlord to do apartment repairs
Q: How do you approach your landlord about fixes he said he would make, but which have gone untended well past a reasonable time?
A: If you have an issue with your rental unit, determine whether it’s an emergency — the house is on fire, a pipe burst — or whether it’s just inconvenient, like an appliance breaking or the toilet being clogged.
If it’s an emergency, notify the landlord immediately. If you haven’t heard back within 12 hours, contact him again, especially if your home is unlivable.
If the situation is irritating but not life-threatening, and the landlord set a timeline for the repair process, check back once the promised date has passed. Find out what the new timetable is.
Keep checking back, being professional at all times. Yelling won’t make the landlord fix your unit faster; it might just put you at the bottom of the pile.
Landlords, take note: Unhappy tenants can contact local government agencies if you don’t eventually make repairs.
— Ilyce Glink, syndicated
real estate writer
A: Many believe a landlord’s failure to address repairs is malevolent. Most of the time, it’s simply the landlord’s forgetfulness. To get those repairs, here are three suggestions:
1. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease” definitely applies. Remind the landlord often and ask for a “completed” date.
2. Put the problem in writing. Nothing scares a landlord more than potential legal action. Sending a certified letter can often re-prioritize the repair in his mind.
3. If the first two options don’t work, some states allow you to get the repair done and either withhold rent or bill the landlord. I would only recommend this if your state has a provision and you’ve exhausted the first two options.
Remember: There is a good chance your landlord isn’t intentionally trying to ignore you; he’s just a person who makes mistakes.
— Brandon Turner, author of “The Book on Rental Property Investing”