Here's the basic situation:

Two weeks ago, her ceiling in the bathroom started leaking. She reported it that day to the office, and has had no one come out for two weeks. Pretty sure she has come back to check on it. It stopped leaking on its own and now she has a 2' by 2' black mold square in the bathroom above the shower.

Her heat has been out since the beginning of the semester. When its running, it smells like burning plastic making the place uninhabitable and looks like there is broken glass inside. It does not heat the apartment and the smell never goes away.

When she turns the water on, the water is brown tinted and eventually goes clear. This is from being inactive overnight.

I've seen some other threads on stuff like this, but wondering what you think her options are. What should she do first? She is a student, so I was thinking she should go to student legal about it, and then tell the complex it needs to be fixed and threaten legal action.

10/29/2008 11:16:00 PM

IF YOU DONT KICK THE DOOR IN AND RESCUE HER RIGHT NOW SHE WILL DIE IN THAT APARTMENT

10/29/2008 11:22:53 PM

You missed your palindrome post.

10/29/2008 11:23:54 PM

have her take pics

has she talked to the apt complex yet? if so, make sure she sends a complaint via certified letter and keeps a copy for herself, include the pics.

if nothing starts happening gtfo

well gtfo out anyway since it sounds like a shithole

10/29/2008 11:36:54 PM

Monica Laliberte "5 On Your Side"

10/29/2008 11:42:39 PM

Well, one problem (no heat) should fix the other problem (mold). Open the windows one night and let it get below freezing. That will burst the pipes and wash away all the mold.

10/29/2008 11:44:16 PM

hahahah pwnt

10/30/2008 12:20:50 AM

http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_306_202_0_43/http;/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/category/Resident/Housing/Cat-1C-2006307-154846-Minimum_Housing_Code_Enf.html

10/30/2008 1:38:30 AM

constructive eviction

tenant evicts themself...research it thats how she should go about peacing up out of that bitch

10/30/2008 1:59:08 AM

Honestly, what kind of self-abusing idiot would let a situation like this persist? Its not a difficult thing to fix, you just have to make it clear that this a serious problem and that you're NOT going to accept it.

Have her go to the leasing office and get a work order. If they won't furnish a work order, threaten to sue. If that doesn't work, send a registered letter with pictures of the issue and a breakdown of the health issues involved. If they don't respond to THAT (and that's extremely unlikely) she has a foolproof case in small claims or real court retaining a lawyer (either of which should cost nothing to her). Its simply a matter of making it clear that the situation is unacceptable, is dangerous, and that she'll take the time to take them to the cleaners if they don't fulfill their legal obligation. Believe me, the leasing office knows what their responsibility is, but they will bluster and delay as long as they can to save money if the person on the other end appears weak. All she needs do is look like she has a backbone.

10/30/2008 3:55:17 AM

ive been down this road. Long story short, i sued my landlord for back rent (rent recoupment) and won about $2000

Read this, and follow instructions!!

http://www.ncdoj.com/DocumentStreamerClient?directory=CPTipAlert/&file=Landlord-tenant%20booklet.pdf

10/30/2008 10:49:55 AM

This isn't University Woods is it? I had almost the exact same problems when I lived there.

GO TO STUDENT LEGAL. Seriously, they're the best. If she is going to try and break her lease, she needs to hire someone to come and test the mold. She also needs to document pictures and send in WRITTEN complaints to the office.

Also, if she's going to argue for back rent, or constructive eviction, she needs to move out, or at least stay at a friend's house for a while. You can't argue that conditions are unfit to live in if you're still actually living there.

[Edited on October 30, 2008 at 11:47 AM. Reason : ]

10/30/2008 11:37:22 AM

yea where is this peter?

and i agree with the above links and student legal if she is a student

10/30/2008 11:49:06 AM

I'd be interested in knowing where this is too. Because our neighbors below us had plumbers visit us, and I got told that my sink/vanity has been leaking through the wall, people below us had starting see damage in their celing, and there might be mold all up in the sheetrock thus they're ripping the vanity off the wall in the near future.

Maybe this will explain my neverending sneezing...

10/30/2008 12:02:51 PM

^your sneezing probably is due to the mold

This place is in some sketch place off of Jones Franklin, I think its Arbour Creek or something like that.

Thanks for the replies, I'll let her know.

10/30/2008 1:52:15 PM