Renting apartment for 6 years: What are our options in terms of repairs?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

So we just got a lease for what will be our 7th year living in the same apartment.

That’s a long time and it’s taking a toll on some parts of the apartment. The oven makes strange and constant clicking noises, the heater is covered in thick rust, it’s very corroded, a couple of electrical outlets no longer function, and finally our windows are in bad shape, the insulation is coming apart and outside breezes can just waltz right in.

This is all standard wear and tear and not directly our fault. Things just break down after years of even careful use.

So what are our options? Obviously I don’t want to buy a new oven but we need one, I don’t want to replace the windows, but we need to, and I can’t afford a new water heater, but it’s necessary.

I believe all of these things are the landlord’s responsibility. They guy is very hands off though. A few years back the heater was giving us problems and he ignored our calls and letters until I hired a plumber and took the plumbers bill out of the rent. THEN he called us, irate that we had dared to do that (even though it was completely within our legal rights to do so). Back then I ended up going halfsies on the repair with him, and to this day I regret doing so.

So again, what can I do? Is he legally responsible for the upkeep of these things, am I? I doubt I am, but if so and I were to say, purchase an oven or water heater, do I get to take it with me when we finally move out?

Any help/advice is greatly appreciated!

2

You lose the rights to anything that becomes part of the property. The owner could sue you for money to put things back to how they want it. The owner is responsible for the replacement of the stuff that wears out, but unless they consider it in need of replacement if it works your likely out of luck.

Your options are:

  1. Mention that some things are worn and you’d like them refurbished or replaced. Don’t sign a lease until the work is done or it written into the lease.

  2. Move because the landlord doesn’t agree to fix things.

  3. Live with stuff how it is.

Some leases do include things like the carpets will be replaced every 5 years and other scheduled upgrades and repairs.

3

Legal Services of New Jersey (a free/low cost legal service) has some landlord/tenant educational materials on their website here:
http://www.lsnjlaw.org/english/placeilive/irentmyhome/tenantsrights/index.cfm