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I need to file a lawsuit against my apartment complex because.....?

My apartment ceiling has been leaking non-stop, 24-7. The leakage is a brownish-green color. I had to patch up one part of the ceiling with paper towels, b/c the leakage started running down the wall before my very own eyes. I've reported this problem to the leasing office twice in one week. On my second time, the office manager and the maintenance guy did a walk through of my apartment. They told me they would be out to fix the problem that next morning. No one came, or called! I've already had ruined items due to the leakage, now the ceiling is molding and mildewing, causing my husband and I to be unable to breathe properly and we feel faint while inside the apartment. My throat becomes sore when I enter, and feels fine when I leave and get fresh air. We can't raise the windows b/c we don't have any screens and they told us we have to buy our own. Just last night a small piece of the ceiling fell off. What should we do about this whole situation?

Update:

Follow up: I have told them that it has damaged some items, and I can't even do anything about that because I don't have renter's insurance.

Update 2:

Also, I found wet clothes in my closet about 5 months ago, and I didn't know where it came from, because it wasn't continuous. It did it for a day, and no more, until about a week ago, when I found more wet clothes, and actually saw the leak. Now it has moved into the hallway and hallway closet.

Update 3:

Also, the leakage in the bedroom closet was coming from the light fixture inside the closet. I've just learned that it may be considered a fire hazzard.

Update 4:

Thank you guys for your help and advice!!!! I'm 25 years old and sometimes when people feel that you are young and don't know any better, they will try to take advantage of you.

6 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Get on your phone right now and contact your local health department. THEY will get him off his *** and get this situation remedied. You should not have your health threatened by this lazy moron. Ok, that will solve the fixing of the problem.

    Next, yes, you would probably have a lawsuit for damages of the property. Keyword here, is validate your claims. Start now and make a list of dates, time you spoke with your landlord regarding this problem, when they came in, so on and so forth. This is very important. Next, take pictures of the ceiling and the mold and mildew. Also take pictures of the items that are damaged do their negligence.

    You should be able to file a complaint in small claims court for the recovery of these damaged property. Remember, you have to prove the worth of these items, so if you dont have a receipt for the purchase, find a similar one in the stores so the judge can determine the amount to award you. You wont get replacement amount, but it will give the judge an idea of what they were originally worth.

  • Call them again, and tell them the leakage is damaging furniture. They'll be out to fix it soon. Call them every day until it's done. If they still haven't done it, tell them you'll be asking for a Health and Safety inspection, which could rule the apartment uninhabitable, and lose them the rent money. You CANNOT refuse to pay your rent unilaterally.

    Meantime, get a fan and place it in the window blowing OUT. That will exhaust most of the moist air. If this has only been going on a week or so, you don't have mold problems, so the breathing thing is psychosomatic, most likely.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    You should move out. It sounds filthy and unsafe. Your state's laws will allow you to terminate your lease when your property is uninhabitable, and your landlord refuses to repair.

    If you insist on staying, then you should try to consume the leakage, and feed it to your children. This will likely harm you, which may give you grounds to file your lawsuit. Just don't tell anyone you consumed it on purpose.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Call the police non emergency it should be 311 (NOT 911). They might be able to do something asap. or the housing authority. You should have asked for a new apartment weeks ago.

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  • staats
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    in case you have it in writing, then you certainly have some thing. you will desire to are turning out to be a replica of the inducement, so look at it and notice if there are loopholes in it wherein the owner can carry you on your unique hire. There in all likelihood is, yet you would be able to to boot examine.

  • 1 decade ago

    Call your local health department and have them inspect it. This is likely a violation of health code in your area.

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