Landlord/tenant rights, dealing with problems, where to get help...
Landlord refuses to Pay to Repair
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Citizen3 Posts: 1
Posted On: 2/20/2016
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Hello. I have 2 issues.
I have been living in my current unit for six months. It is a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom unit. From the start of the lease, I had told the landlord (in writing) that the electrical sockets in both bedrooms did not produce electricity. Plugging in anything (except a cell phone charger) resulted in the entire circuit being blown.
The landlord uses the exact same electrician for every job he needs to be done. The electrician does not speak any English so he usually arrives with a translator (the landlord's real estate agent), however he has shown up alone at least once. There have been at least 4 attempts by the same electrician to fix the issue, each attempt basically has him in the fuse box playing with the wiring. Each time he comes, he claims the reason for the circuit blowing (the way it's translated) is something else.
The first time he claimed one specific lamp was no good (which was false because it works on the other circuits, it's north american, etc). The second time he came, he said that certain sockets should not be used because they were faulty (once again proven false, every single socket was faulty). This was the same reasoning the third time. The fourth time he said that 2 pronged plugs would cause it to blow the circuit and that only 3 pronged plugs could be used. This of course, was completely false. The fourth time he came, every theory he had I made sure to test before he left. He then (in very broken English) blamed the entire problem on the condo builder and that the unit was beyond warranty so the landlord didn't want to pay.
I have written to the landlord requesting that a more competent professional come and repair the electrical issues so that they may be resolved. I expressed my frustration with my experience. I appreciate them sending someone but this individual has attempted this problem multiple times and never actually fixes it. I believe the landlord uses this one because he is extremely cheap labour. I have been living with extension cords strewn throughout my condo for 6 months. The landlord's agent called me yesterday say that the landlord would allow me to break the lease and move out.
I've just finished changing all of my address information (I have been extremely busy). I like the neighbourhood, the building, and the unit (except for the issues). Additionally, I just paid for a move and don't want to incur additional costs and the headache of an actual move because the landlord refuses to pay for a real electrician to fix the unit. Even if moving was really the only option, I have an insanely busy next few months and moving really isn't feasible.
I'm fairly certain the landlord knows the extent of the work that needs to be done as well as the costs and basically only wants to send the cheapest person they know once in a while to "fix" the problem. Does the landlord have a responsibility to repair the electrical sockets or am I out of luck? There is one light fixture that does work in only one of the bedrooms so there is light in one but that is the only source and bedside lamps, alarm clocks, accessory chargers, etc won't work. The second bedroom has no light fixture but can get light if the lights from the main living area are on. I can't even plug a lamp in there. Do I have a right to working wall sockets in my bedrooms? Can the landlord get away with mediocre repair people and not fully powering the condo? (If this was 1 wall socket, I would understand but none of the sockets in either bedroom I find hard to believe).
Additionally I was also having trouble with the plumbing in one of the bathrooms. The sink drains extremely slowly as does the toilet. I think there is some sort of blockage. The toilet can really only handle fluids. I have tried plunging the toilet repeatedly and used liquid plumber on the sink.
The same electrician was sent to handle that job and he didn't even attempt to fix the problem. He suggested I try a plunger and also left me with the tip to not flush paper towel down (I don't know why he thought I did that, the problems have nothing to do with that).
Is the landlord required to hire a professional plumber to resolve the plumbing issue?
Thank you!
*Edit* I have seen the article about electricity being mandatory. Like I mentioned, there is electricity in the rest of the condo (Most of the kitchen / main room and bathrooms). I guess this issue more specific. So can a landlord get away with providing only half of a condo with electricity?
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Moderator Moderator Posts: 4077
Posted On: 2/22/2016
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Hello,
Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us.
We can appreciate that you would be concerned about this situation.
We strongly suggest that you contact the nearest Community Legal Clinic for some information and advice related to your situation.
I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.
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Anna
Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS
Settlement.Org
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