Freeoples Thread 327

[Mo1]

T h r e a d ... 3 2 7

[operation clinton cleanup]

AC compressor is shot (about 50 yrs old)

Dang! That is a heck of a unit to last that long! (I have a 1977 sears window unit that is cranking out cool air like it just came from the factory).

[operation clinton cleanup]

the A/C unit.. not the air!

[ValerieUSA]

Yep, you visited right after we moved in last November, and the plumbing backed up immediately and has caused ongoing problems since then (I think tree roots have broken some drainage pipes underground, but they won't check). Then when the weather cooled off enough to turn on the furnace, we discovered it was broken. They replaced it. Now the AC is ka-put. I've had to report the dead trees to be removed (3 before we moved in and one last month) - you would think they could see something that obvious for themselves. Now they want me to submit every repair/maintenance request in writing - no more phone requests.
I have a one year lease. I wouldn't mind moving right away maybe to another town, for the beginning of the school year, but I haven't even looked because the lease is for another couple of months. I suspect they'll try to raise the rent a lot then to make up for all the repairs from this year ... which needed to be made to a 50 yr old house anyway.
But, this is the nicest place we've ever lived in. *L*

[ValerieUSA]

I thought you only get factory air in cars. *L*

[Servant of the Nine]

Do y'all have residential tenancy branches and things like that where you can complain. We do and they pretty much always favor the tenant. Particularly on necessities such as appliances, heat, a/c, plumbing etc.

Not even Austin has sunk low enough to have that kind of Bleeding heart Commie agency. Her only optoin in Texas is to take the landlord to Small Claims Court and hope the Justice of the Peace likes her.

Val, do a demand letter about the AC fix and rent reduction and send it over by messenger. That means drive one of the kids over to deliver it and have him get a signed receipt.

SO9

[Canadian Outrage]

They probably can but at least they won't be in the streets of Isreali cities. CNN has pretty much lost most of its' credibility anyway. They will just continue with the same propoganda that they are doing now anyway. Make it look like only the poor Palis are dying.

[Canadian Outrage]

The main reason that the residential tenancy branch was formed was actually in reaction to mostly bad landlords. I admit the pendulum has swung way too far in the other direction now but the landlords were so bad, that old people were nearly freezing in the winter etc. Where is it perfect? Maybe Val can move there.

[Servant of the Nine]

I try to create an enviornment where the tenant thinks of their unit as THEIR home - and they do not want to move anywhere else. It's a win-win deal.

Yep. I haven't had to deal with my Condo in 5 years. The AC died, and the tennant got my AC company to replace it and deducted it from the rent. He wanted paint and new carpet, I sent him a couple a names of people I trusted, he got it done on his own time and deducted it. Life can be simple. I have had 2 tennants over the last 11 years. So9

[Servant of the Nine]

The main reason that the residential tenancy branch was formed was actually in reaction to mostly bad landlords.

I try to be a good landlord, but then again. It is my property. I paid for it and pay the taxes on it. If you want to pay the rent and live there under my conditions, fine. Otherwise, get your ass outta my place.

So9

[lodwick]

;-) Thanks, but it's really just smarter, and easier this way. I think. Lynn - you're on shakey legal grounds in the state of Texas. Ve haf our vays here. Everything is in the contract - and this pud sounds too cheap to belong to the local Realtors Association where he would be able to use the state promulgated forms, so he probably just copied one from the local Office Depot.

Valerie, do you have Renter's Insurance? If so, call your agent and see if this is a covered incident.

Good luck and God bless with this one - it's too damned hot not to have a functioning AC. JL

[Canadian Outrage]

That is how it should be. Val has not yet found one that is that reasonable. With kids and all, it can be pretty tough. Small Claims court - they are usually so backed up, you gotta pay to file the claim forms, wait till they enter a defense or default, then go back and either fight it out in front of a judge or file your default judgment and try to collect. No fun and not quick

[operation clinton cleanup]

I thought you only get factory air in cars.

LOL.. I bought this window unit from a guy who's father had just died for 100 dollars. It is a GE brand bought from Sears. The old man still had all the original paperwork and hardware from the day he bought it. The owners manual had 7/7/77 as the date of purchase written in it. I soaked the filter in clorox, but it still gives off a musty smell... still better than factory air.

[lodwick]

Good job with the condo, and your tenants.

Communication is key. And a modicum of trust.

The People's Republic has indeed sunk this low. But evidently with people like Valerie's LL, it may be a needed thing if people, for whatever reason, refuse to "do right."

[Canadian Outrage]

The residential tenancy branch only really gets on the LL's ass in regards to necessities. Those things they classify as not be able to reasonably live without. Fridge, stove, plumbing, heat (esp. in winter here). those kinda things. If somebody didn't like the curtains or something, they would not bother.

[Mo1]

Just marking my spot .. have to go to the store and get school supplies

[ValerieUSA]

This house sat empty for months before we moved in -- before that it was a "group home" for disabled adults. I found that out months later from a neighbor. I like the location of this place - it's convenient for in Waco. Safely off of the main drags in a good neighborhood, but only a few blocks from 2 nice grocery stores, a nice mall, dozens of restaurants, my bank, the post office, Barnes and Noble.... It is such a HUGE improvement over the last place that I don't want to have to move again if I can avoid it.

[lodwick]

OK - if you can talk to the owner directly, do so. Tell him everything that we've said here. That you want to stay there till you die, and you want to live to be 200 years old.

But he's got to do his part and bring the place up to habitabilty standards for crying out loud.

This is wearing me out. LL's do right for goodness sake. Save my sanity - or what's left of it. ;-)

[Canadian Outrage]

What is the rental market like in Waco Val? Low vacancy or high vacancy? The fact that it sat empty for months is kinda suspicious. A group home would put a lot of strain on a lot of things, like, carpeting, plumbing, etc. They should have to disclose those things. So9 is right about the written Demand letter tho. Get a paper trail and lay out the whole scenario including start dates etc. Give them 48 hours to fix it.

[ValerieUSA]

*L* Sorry, didn't mean to post it to you, loddy. I know it's not your problem - you do the right thing.
I don't even know who the owner is - an agency handles the property, but must get his (or her) permission for major replacements. I'll need a smaller place as the boys grow up and move out anyway. Won't need so much house with just a couple of us. I wouldn't be sorry to leave Waco either.

[Canadian Outrage]

Whoever owns it doesn't seem to give a sh&t tho. Maybe there are other houses on that street or area that will come up for rent. I think its best to deal directly with the owner too but when they hire these "Agencies", they are just middle men and a good excuse to stall getting at anything. It would drive me nuts.