How long can apartment go without fixing my fridge?

In My Humble Opinion
21

Also, not all landlords have to right/permission to make a large non-emergency (which I think has been made clear, a broken fridge is not) repair/replacement on their. own. At the place I lived at for short while last year, the “landlord/maintenance” guy was the brother of the property owner and she was super cheap about everything he bought/repaired. It didn’t matter if it took him two hours to fix something that that would cost $10 to buy, it was $10 she didn’t have to spend. He gifted me a toilet brush when I moved in which consisted of a small wire brush attached to a cut down broomstick!

BTW, he always complained that she didn’t pay him enough (and I agreed) for all that he did, especially since she had multiple rental properties @ $1000+/month per unit, no kids and spent all time traveling around the world with her husband.

22

Legal advice is best suited to IMHO.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator

23

Arrghh…I just realized I linked to the SC HUD website and not the SC Government site here: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t27c040.php

The law is still the same. And I don’t see anything about time frames (that may be in your lease) for repairs/replacement. Everything is “reasonably” or “unreasonably”.

24

Here’s a news article about what’s considered essential:
.
"Many are wondering if landlords are required to provide air conditioning.

We asked Ashley Thomas with Appleseed Legal Justice Center if this is the case.

“As anybody who lives in South Carolina knows, it gets very hot. Especially elderly people and people with young children, air conditioning is a really important piece as far as comfort when they’re at home,” said Thomas.

Thomas says although heat is an essential service according to the law, air condition is not.

“Unfortunately air conditioning is not one of those essential services while heat is, it’s just not included under the South Carolina State Law,” explained Thomas.

What are these essential services exactly?

According to Thomas, she says the South Carolina Code of Laws says that’s things like plumbing and sewer services, electricity, gas, running water, and heat but air condition isn’t on that list.

Thomas says there’s an exception, if your landlord already provides air conditioning.

“If a landlord provides an air conditioner unit, the landlord is required to maintain that unit in working order,” said Thomas.

If your landlord provides you an air conditioner and it’s not working, what should you do?

“I would advise people not to just call and let them know. I would always try to put it in writing so that you can later if necessary show that you did reach out and make this request,” explained Thomas."

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/does-your-landlord-have-to-provide-air-conditioning/101-566099030

25

Your refrigerator is broken and the landlord has a new one scheduled for two business days later (assuming no holiday for Xmas eve)?

Frankly, that’s a best case scenario for you. As a homeowner you’d be hard presses to do better for yourself over the Christmas holiday.

Being a renter does not mean that you are immune from the inconveniences of major maintenance, which this is. An inconvenience.

Here’s hoping everything goes smoothly on Wed, though!