no ac!!!! should my rent be prorated?

Question

my ac hasn't worked for about a week and i was wondering if it is rude of me to ask for my rent to be prorated at all for this month.  in the mean time my daughters hermit crabs have died b/c of the heat and my newborn has gotten heat rash b/c of it. we have been staying at my parents or sleeping on the couch downstairs. i have had to borrow a window unit just to cool the living room enough to sleep inside. thanks,

Jessica Tam · Answer

Do you ever get complaints from tenants because you don't use a major warranties company? I've found a lot of people round here won't let repair people in unless they are from the big well known contractors.  It's an understandable concern though.

Lady Smith · Answer

I am having the same problem here as well. ( over a week with a AC that works, then stops working, they fix, it stops workings, they fix etc) 
 I know my state law so I am hoping they get on board here and fix my AC correctly.
I don't want to have another bad thing happen at this place while I continue out my lease.

Good luck to you!!

Afsheen Akbar · Answer

Hi 
I totaly agree about the home warranties company. I had the contract for my parents house and we needed some work done on the AC. It was crazy it took them so long to take a look at it and then they were like it needs Freon gas which is dangerous gas so our contractor companies dont keep them. Not to mention I did not renew it afterwards.
AA

Lynn Z · Answer

I  agree about home warranties.  Gread tool when you're selling.  Buyers love them but as landlord I have to use competent companies that save me money not someone on the warranty company list.  My heating and air conditioning company owner said he no longer participates because they spent more time arguing with him about use of parts etc. than it was worth.
He' just happens to be very reasonable and a good diagnostician.

Tom NA · Answer

I had an AC problem in a rental property that I own and due to issues with the home warranty company (I hate those things!), it took several weeks for them to finally replace it.  I didn't wait for my tenant to ask - I offered them a concession off of their rent for the inconvenience.  Much better to take a small financial hit and have a happy tenant who sees that you are doing your best to keep them happy than have a tenant who believes that you don't care.  I suspect if you explain the inconvenience and merely propose a fair concession, the landlord will probably be accommodating.

As a sidebar, as part of my experience, I wisened up and stopped using home warranty companies as they mostly spend their time finding ways to not pay for anything - lucky for me before cancelling, I got the expensive air conditioning replaced.

Lynn Z · Answer

If you rented an apartment with heat and air then the landlord is required to be fixed by the landlord or replaced.   I assume it's a CH&A since you say you bought a window unit.  The landlord has responsibilities to fix the system in a reasonable amount of time.  Sounds like they (or their property management) is being irresponsible.  Just query the state landlord tenant act on the  internet and read what your rights are.  I am a landlord.  My tenants don't have to beg for this type of issue to be resolved.

Account Closed · Answer

1. Learn the laws for your area. If you hold back money and the law does not allow this you can be evicted.

2. Contact the landlord and see if you can work out a deal. Many landlords will be flexible on things like this. They would rather keep a good tenant then have the place go vacant.

John Corey

Lynn Z · Answer

look in your landlord tenant statutes and see if rent money can be withheld when repairs are not made.  You can do that in my state.  Once when my heating and air company took a week in the winter to fix the furnace and then put a part on backwards (still didn't work) I comped the tenant 1/2 a month's rent.  Most tenants are extremely helpful in these situations where the landlord is trying but can't get the service they need.

Frank Adams · Answer

I don't know if is "should" or not, but I know it won't be unless you ask the landlord to do so. When you ask you should state your case;;

1. Clearly

2 Concisely

3. Unemotionally

4.  IN WRITING.

Make sure there are no typos, that it is written as well as the most important letter you would write to your boss-for a pay raise as example.

Why did it take a week? Landlord didn't care? No technicians available? Parts not available?

Where are you? It might be a bigger problem in Houston or Dallas than ni New York or Wisconsin.

Good luck

all cash