Apartment Water Damage

Green drywall is used for bathrooms/basements. It's used in areas that have moisture to avoid mold growth. That's a bit different than water streaming down the ceiling/wall. That means there has been wet wood in the wall. Glad to see they fixed the roof though.
 
Today the roofer came back and found "extensive damage" to the exterior of the roof. I guess yesterday he was wearing a blindfold. I don't understand how you can miss what you call "extensive damage".

The property manager says the roofer put up something to cover it and stop the leak temporarily... Exactly what I suggested on day 1, to which she responded that it would not be possible due to the shape of the tiles on the Spanish roof.

When asked when she thinks it will be fixed, she responded with "I don't know", since the contractor would first have to provide a quote and timeframe for the fix and it would have to then be approved by the higher ups (aka the property management company and owner).

On top of that, of course they can't do drywall until the roof is permanently fixed. I am unable to use my closet until the drywall is either treated and painted or replaced (which I believe will have to happen).

When asked for a rent concession, the manager claims they have never allowed such a thing before for this, including when some people were unable to use their porches for 3 months. She said she will ask the "higher ups".

The leasing manager is getting annoyed at my daily persistence in being kept up to date during the situation and while she has not been blatantly rude I can tell she is being slightly condescending and holding back further bitchiness. She claims that "it is just a closet" and acts that I don't deserve a rent concession (although she says she will ask). To which I responded with the question "where am I supposed to put my clothes?", which she responds with "I don't know". FYI, my closet was FULL of clothes and shoes, and very neatly organized.

I just don't know what I can really do. They are "trying" and skirting the law. But they are being slow and incompetent about it. I am unhappy with the situation and how it has been handled so far. It should not have taken 10 days to find the leak and merely cover it with something. I should not be charged full price for my dwelling and I should not have to put up with their lack of compassion or understanding.

I just want my ceiling to not leak and my drywall to be clean again so that I may use my closet.
 
squiggy said:
You could threaten legal action if they do not allow you to break your lease penalty free...
Click to expand...
It just feels like I really have no legal ground to stand on given that they are technically trying to solve the problem. I feel that I am at the mercy of the contractor's schedule and the management company's bureaucracy in getting things approved or being compensated for my inconvenience. I did not ask for a rent concession until a week had passed. It sounds like I will not get a concession based on the property manager's response.

I've done my research on the laws and my lease and it just sounds like they are following the bare minimum rules and that I am legally allowed to have to deal with this BS.
 
Last edited:
trustdestruction said:
It just feels like I really have no legal ground to stand on given that they are technically trying to solve the problem. I feel that I am at the mercy of the contractor's schedule and the management company's bureaucracy in getting things approved or being compensated for my inconvenience. I did not ask for a rent concession until a week had passed. It sounds like I will not get a concession based on the property manager's response.

I've done my research on the laws and my lease and it just sounds like they are following the bare minimum rules and that I am legally allowed to have to deal with this BS.
Click to expand...


I said threaten. I didn't necessarily imply you had to follow through. Sometimes the mere threat will scare them.
 
squiggy said:
I said threaten. I didn't necessarily imply you had to follow through. Sometimes the mere threat will scare them.
Click to expand...

I asked them for clarification on that certain clause of the lease about me being able to break it (see picture i posted yesterday for clause) and they tried to explain it as best they could (which was fine, I understood) but said I should ask a lawyer if I needed further explanation. I never mentioned a lawyer to them, they brought that up. I've kind of determined from that conversation that they seem unphased by the topic of me getting a lawyer.

I called the management company and requested to talk to someone relevant to the apartment complex that was higher up (I said it more professionally than that, lol) and they told me she was out of office. They took my name and number and she is supposed to call me back, that person being the regional manager.
 
Last edited:
LOL "live in the hood or something" , I dont live in the best of neighborhoods and live in a two bedroom apartment, rent is $1200 -_-. Florida's cost of living>NJ's cost of living.
 
TheSlowAndTheSerious said:
LOL "live in the hood or something" , I dont live in the best of neighborhoods and live in a two bedroom apartment, rent is $1200 -_-. Florida's cost of living>NJ's cost of living.
Click to expand...
That was basically just my way of saying that in a nice neighborhood there is a level of standards that you would think should be met. I live near the university, where lots of apartments are run-down party central. I live about 5 minutes further away from university than those apartments, in a nice community called Tampa Palms. There are million dollar houses back there and living in an apartment in that kind of neighborhood should net you zero problems in terms of the cheapness and neglect of the landlord relative to their maintenance of the building.

Obviously in "the hood", you're going to pay substantially less and probably have a more run-down apartment.

Not to say I am judgemental of the people that live there, but I should be getting what I am paying for by paying a premium to live in a nicer area.
 
Last edited:
trustdestruction said:
You guys really think that's what I have to resort to? I was really not wanting to do that.
Click to expand...
They could at least guide you. Every state has different laws, so unless a person on here is versed in fl law, they are your best bet. They will usually do a free consult to hear the issue and tell you some options. Even if they have to write a certified letter on your behalf, it should be no more than say $150ish. That may be enough to get out of the lease.
 
We lived away from campus also in a nice apartment...we were trying to avoid all the late night party kids....unfortunately we got late night party adults...and some rowdy kids :\
We then moved into a rental townhouse...for the same price as the apartment...that was much larger and had a garage LOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top