trustdestruction
Well-Known Member
I am having a problem with a leaky apartment roof and slow response and would like some input.
Background:
I have lived in this apartment since May 29th 2012. It is a one bedroom apartment and costs around 900 a month for rent, so it's not like I live in the hood or something. A few months ago, I noticed an area of the living room ceiling that had some water damage. I could not visibly see any water but I notified management of the problem. They were okay about it and scheduled to have someone look at it. They came out and fixed my ceiling and supposedly the roof as well. A couple of weeks ago I noticed the damage had reappeared. I called and no one had been out to fix it. This leak still has not shown any visible dripping or anything so I am not too worried about it and have been patient. I'm have felt sure they will attempt to fix it eventually. Their slowness has not been a big deal until...
Current Problem:
Fast forward to Saturday 6/1, we had a torrential downpour while I installed my springs in the garage and afterwards I found a separate leak in my master bedroom closet, with water running from the spot where the ceiling and wall meet, and then running down the wall. It originally was running down the wall and soaking into a duffel bag, then dripping onto my girlfriend's clothes, which we discovered within the first 2-4 hours of the rainstorm. We have since washed the clothes and duffel bag and they appear to be okay. We removed all items within 2 feet of that wall the water was running down and I put a few old towels lengthwise along the baseboard to soak up the water. It's not as if it is raining in my apartment but it is definitely enough water to be a problem. It is evident by looking at the ceiling drywall and texture that the ceiling in this area has been repaired in the past prior to me moving in.
I took pictures immediately of the leak and took them to the leasing office on Sunday 6/2 afternoon. They asked that they be sent in an email for their own records and I did so at that moment. I have called back every day since, and visited the office Tuesday/yesterday to ask the status in person. Monday they said they called the contractor and he would be there Tuesday 6/4. On Tuesday I visited the office around 5:30 PM on my way home and they said the contractor was on site. They say today Wednesday 6/5 that they are not sure if he looked at my leak yet (there are other buildings with leaks getting looked at too), and that he cannot come back until tomorrow, Thursday 6/6. They said if it's not repaired before this week's huge storm hits tomorrow then I can call emergency maintenance if there is water leaking. I informed her "it WILL leak" if it rains and she just kind of repeated herself about calling emergency maintenance.
Tomorrow and Friday, Tampa, FL is supposed to get hit by a large storm that may turn into a tropical depression. It has been raining off and on since Saturday, with plenty of hours of no-rain in between showers (someone COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING), and it leaks every time. I need the leak fixed or temp fixed now so that I don't have water entering my apartment. They have not even had someone go put up a tarp or something. It has been 72 hours since I reported the leak and gave them the pictures via email.
Until this point in time I have not really been angry with my apartment complex, and I don't have a desire to leave because aside from this I enjoy living here. I want the leak and damage fixed and to continue to live here until my lease expires May 29th 2014 (I just renewed before the leak, FAIL). I live on the 3rd floor, Movers are expensive, new leases are expensive (pet fees, admin fees, deposits), and I just don't have time or desire to set up all my stuff again in a new place right now.
They seem to care very little about my problem because of other leaks and they seem to have just accepted that the roof is in disrepair, although they have not been rude to me. I have heard before the leak that they have been trying to get the owner to re-roof the complex but need approval. The roof is a spanish tile roof that appears to be original (20-25 years old). I just purchased renter's insurance exactly one week before the leak happened, so that was lucky timing in case my property does get damaged.
Background:
I have lived in this apartment since May 29th 2012. It is a one bedroom apartment and costs around 900 a month for rent, so it's not like I live in the hood or something. A few months ago, I noticed an area of the living room ceiling that had some water damage. I could not visibly see any water but I notified management of the problem. They were okay about it and scheduled to have someone look at it. They came out and fixed my ceiling and supposedly the roof as well. A couple of weeks ago I noticed the damage had reappeared. I called and no one had been out to fix it. This leak still has not shown any visible dripping or anything so I am not too worried about it and have been patient. I'm have felt sure they will attempt to fix it eventually. Their slowness has not been a big deal until...
Current Problem:
Fast forward to Saturday 6/1, we had a torrential downpour while I installed my springs in the garage and afterwards I found a separate leak in my master bedroom closet, with water running from the spot where the ceiling and wall meet, and then running down the wall. It originally was running down the wall and soaking into a duffel bag, then dripping onto my girlfriend's clothes, which we discovered within the first 2-4 hours of the rainstorm. We have since washed the clothes and duffel bag and they appear to be okay. We removed all items within 2 feet of that wall the water was running down and I put a few old towels lengthwise along the baseboard to soak up the water. It's not as if it is raining in my apartment but it is definitely enough water to be a problem. It is evident by looking at the ceiling drywall and texture that the ceiling in this area has been repaired in the past prior to me moving in.
I took pictures immediately of the leak and took them to the leasing office on Sunday 6/2 afternoon. They asked that they be sent in an email for their own records and I did so at that moment. I have called back every day since, and visited the office Tuesday/yesterday to ask the status in person. Monday they said they called the contractor and he would be there Tuesday 6/4. On Tuesday I visited the office around 5:30 PM on my way home and they said the contractor was on site. They say today Wednesday 6/5 that they are not sure if he looked at my leak yet (there are other buildings with leaks getting looked at too), and that he cannot come back until tomorrow, Thursday 6/6. They said if it's not repaired before this week's huge storm hits tomorrow then I can call emergency maintenance if there is water leaking. I informed her "it WILL leak" if it rains and she just kind of repeated herself about calling emergency maintenance.
Tomorrow and Friday, Tampa, FL is supposed to get hit by a large storm that may turn into a tropical depression. It has been raining off and on since Saturday, with plenty of hours of no-rain in between showers (someone COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING), and it leaks every time. I need the leak fixed or temp fixed now so that I don't have water entering my apartment. They have not even had someone go put up a tarp or something. It has been 72 hours since I reported the leak and gave them the pictures via email.
Until this point in time I have not really been angry with my apartment complex, and I don't have a desire to leave because aside from this I enjoy living here. I want the leak and damage fixed and to continue to live here until my lease expires May 29th 2014 (I just renewed before the leak, FAIL). I live on the 3rd floor, Movers are expensive, new leases are expensive (pet fees, admin fees, deposits), and I just don't have time or desire to set up all my stuff again in a new place right now.
They seem to care very little about my problem because of other leaks and they seem to have just accepted that the roof is in disrepair, although they have not been rude to me. I have heard before the leak that they have been trying to get the owner to re-roof the complex but need approval. The roof is a spanish tile roof that appears to be original (20-25 years old). I just purchased renter's insurance exactly one week before the leak happened, so that was lucky timing in case my property does get damaged.
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