Letter to ScumBag Landlord

Everyone I just moved to this new apartment complex at the end of August and I am having issues up the wazoo. This is the letter I am going to give them please let me know what you think. Thanks in advance!

Dear DirtBag-
I have attempted to call several times this afternoon but have been unable to get through. I am writing to inform you of outstanding issues going on at my apartment. When I returned my move-in checklist, I noted that the following things needed to be fixed:
 Lock on patio door
 Dishwasher needs to be checked because it smokes when turned on
 Light bulb above stove blown out
To date none of these issues have been resolved which is a breach of contract. I submitted a work order for the refrigerator and it worked for a couple of days and then today while I was home for lunch I discovered that my milk had spoiled because the refrigerator is not cooling again. I have also expressed my concerns about being placed in a handicap unit. This unit is not acceptable for me because I am lacking a pantry and other cabinet space that is much needed for a family of 4. I would like to be transferred to another unit ASAP as I have already paid my monthly rent for a regular unit and not a handicap unit. When I toured the property I was shown a regular unit and since I was not placed in that type of unit I will not pay a transfer fee because this mix-up was not my fault. Another reason I need to be transferred ASAP is I have discovered that there is a flea problem in my apartment. I came into the office on yesterday (September 10, 2006) and showed Sharon all the bite marks that I have on my leg(which I have pictures of) and also informed her that my children have been bitten as well. This flea problem is not acceptable because I have 2 small children and they can not live in this kind of environment. I have promptly paid my rent and I would like a prompt response to this flea problem because I am not a pet owner. After doing my own research about flea infestations I have discovered that simply spraying will not correct this problem because the fleas and their eggs are possibly living in the carpet. As I fore stated, I am not a pet owner and I will not deal with this ongoing problem. I already have my own health concerns and can not subject myself to any infections that might occur due to being bitten by fleas. In addition to the flea problem, I also have beetles coming in the front door because weather stripping is missing from the door and there is a small hole big enough for the beetles to come and go as they please! I have only resided here for a week and a half and I like the community but I am having too many issues with this particular unit. I know that there are currently 2 apartments available in the larger floor plan and I would appreciate being transferred to one of those units ASAP. I can not keep waiting and waiting to get answers. I need someone in this office to make something happen now or I will have to speak to someone in the corporate department. Please contact me at xxx-xxxx between 8-5 and xxx-xxxx after 5pm. Thanks for you immediate attention.
:aggress: :aggress:

Everyone I just moved to this new apartment complex at the end of August and I am having issues up the wazoo. This is the letter I am going to give them please let me know what you think. Thanks in advance!

Dear DirtBag-
I have attempted to call several times this afternoon but have been unable to get through. I am writing to inform you of outstanding issues going on at my apartment. When I returned my move-in checklist, I noted that the following things needed to be fixed:
 Lock on patio door
 Dishwasher needs to be checked because it smokes when turned on
 Light bulb above stove blown out
To date none of these issues have been resolved which is a breach of contract. I submitted a work order for the refrigerator and it worked for a couple of days and then today while I was home for lunch I discovered that my milk had spoiled because the refrigerator is not cooling again. I have also expressed my concerns about being placed in a handicap unit. This unit is not acceptable for me because I am lacking a pantry and other cabinet space that is much needed for a family of 4. I would like to be transferred to another unit ASAP as I have already paid my monthly rent for a regular unit and not a handicap unit. When I toured the property I was shown a regular unit and since I was not placed in that type of unit I will not pay a transfer fee because this mix-up was not my fault. Another reason I need to be transferred ASAP is I have discovered that there is a flea problem in my apartment. I came into the office on yesterday (September 10, 2006) and showed Sharon all the bite marks that I have on my leg(which I have pictures of) and also informed her that my children have been bitten as well. This flea problem is not acceptable because I have 2 small children and they can not live in this kind of environment. I have promptly paid my rent and I would like a prompt response to this flea problem because I am not a pet owner. After doing my own research about flea infestations I have discovered that simply spraying will not correct this problem because the fleas and their eggs are possibly living in the carpet. As I fore stated, I am not a pet owner and I will not deal with this ongoing problem. I already have my own health concerns and can not subject myself to any infections that might occur due to being bitten by fleas. In addition to the flea problem, I also have beetles coming in the front door because weather stripping is missing from the door and there is a small hole big enough for the beetles to come and go as they please! I have only resided here for a week and a half and I like the community but I am having too many issues with this particular unit. I know that there are currently 2 apartments available in the larger floor plan and I would appreciate being transferred to one of those units ASAP. I can not keep waiting and waiting to get answers. I need someone in this office to make something happen now or I will have to speak to someone in the corporate department. Please contact me at xxx-xxxx between 8-5 and xxx-xxxx after 5pm. Thanks for you immediate attention.
:aggress: :aggress:


What does this have to do with General Bankruptcy talk?

I have move this thread to the General Talk section.

Sorry, thought that's what I clicked on.

Hi Tedderbear. Your note sounds fine but could I make a couple of suggestions? Take out all the ASAP's, you have three of them and after the second it loses it's impact and sounds more like a rant. Also, move the flea issue at the top as this is a HUGE issue. Take out this part; I already have my own health concerns and can not subject myself to any infections that might occur due to being bitten by fleas. It really won't matter one way or the other to the landlord.

Anyways, that's what I think. And your right on to definately have something in writing. Good luck with this

It's a little run on.

Cut it down.

Say "I've discovered that the apt is infested with fleas." Maybe mention showing the flea bite evidence to their employee. But I personally wouldn't go into my own, unrelated health issues. They don't need to know your business.

As a pet owner who's had a flea infestation ONCE, I know how hard it was to get rid of them. We tried the flea bombs and shampooing the cats. TWICE. Still had fleas. Just knocked them back for a week or so each time. We finally resorted to having the carpet shampooed with flea treatment in the carpet cleaning solution, in addition to spraying upholstered furniture, then flea bomb again, AND shampooing the cats. We finally got rid of them.

This is the worst time of the year for fleas. Fleas breed in August and September. Eggs can lay dormant in carpet and upholstery for months, even years before they hatch. So getting rid of the fleas is gonna be a job all by itself. If you do move to another apt, you are definitely gonna want your furniture treated prior to moving into a new unit. Otherwise, you could just carry the fleas with you.

Also address the part about the beatles and the missing weather stripping.

Look up on the Net, in your local area, for a Rental Property Building Codes office. Our area has one. Find their address and phone number. Call them and see how many of these types of issues the Rental Property Building Codes people will pursue. If the Codes people will go after your Landlord for any of your issues, then mention that. If your issues are not addressed within << insert time frame >> you will be forced to contact the Codes people to address getting these issues corrected.

I'd also contact the local branch of Americans with Disabilities.

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm

That's Federal. Maybe the fact that you're in a Handicapped Unit when you clearly don't need it could also be some sort of violation as well.

Yes, the letter is too "loaded".

You are pleading your case before you give them an opportunity comply with your request. This letter does not inspire "confidence" in what you are asking for. It's like your searching for reasons.

I would state the items that need to be corrected and request that you be moved to another unit immediately.

Just state the facts and leave out the personal stuff. If you write the letter from a confident stance, your much more likely to get what you want.

Good luck! :)

The rules vary from state to state. Try to get a copy of the "landlord and tenant" laws for your state and read them carefully. In some states you have the right to "self-help," after you have given them a written notice about these situations and the landlord fails to respond within a "reasonable" amount of time--generally within 48 hours. If they fail to respond, you can terminate your lease, find a new place to live and then demand to have your deposit and unused rent refunded to you within 14 days. The other option, if the landlord continues to drag his feet, would be to hire a pest control company to spray your apartment for fleas and beetles, and then send a copy of the paid invoice to the landlord demanding to be reimbursed for the full amount. In most states, you will still have to pay your rent on time, and not deduct this amount from your rent, or else the landlord can evict you. But, if the landlord fails to reimburse you within a reasonable amount of time, you can file a lawsuit against the landlord in small claims court.

You can't force the landlord to give you a better apartment than the one you currently occupy, but if the landlord wants to keep you as a tenant, he might voluntarily offer to upgrade you to a better one.

I just want to thank you all for your help! As of yesterday I am occupying a flea-free non-handicap unit with NEW Carpet. I cut the letter down like you all suggested and I included that I had contacted our local building codes office. When I called she tried to act like she didn't receive the letter but I knew she had because she had already sent the maintenance man to fix the fridge at the old place. Nonetheless I got what I wanted so i'm happy now. I'm concentrating now on exterminating the few straggler fleas that probably followed us over here! Thanks again everyone!!!:yahoo: :yahoo: :clapping:

:yahoo: :clapping: :yahoo: CONGRATS, Tedder!! :yahoo: :clapping: :yahoo:

Well done!! :yes2: