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Bezexer t1_j1o5lln wrote

Yeah…it’s the holidays. People aren’t really working over the holidays. It happens. I am continuously shocked by people who think landlords can just bend contractors to their whim. They are right. They can’t help that the heat went out so close to a holiday. What are they supposed to do? They can’t just snap their fingers and make things happen. I am a homeowner without heat and I can’t get anyone to fix my heater until Tuesday. You know what I did? I bought four space heaters and set them up in my house to sustain until the repair can be made. That’s life. We adapt and overcome. The landlords aren’t bad landlords just because they can’t get a contractor to fix your heat right now.

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Ew_fine t1_j1os7lc wrote

Then they should pay to put them up in a motel.

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em6891 t1_j1ppu8f wrote

Damn! Some of yall have really high expectations!

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Master-Ad-5153 t1_j1ohagt wrote

I don't know how many tenants would expect a miracle fix like that, but more that their landlord would provide some alternative heating sources until repairs can be made. You purchased space heaters, something the landlord should be providing if that's an acceptable solution.

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Bezexer t1_j1ohfyt wrote

You must not be paying attention to some of these conversations. By the way, the OP does have a space heater. What else shall this landlord offer to this specific tenant?

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Master-Ad-5153 t1_j1okksg wrote

Well all I got is the same story you did, but maybe we're interpreting differently.

I'm reading it as the landlord has no knowledge of the space heater, perhaps it isn't adequate for this particular unit, and the landlord hasn't attempted to provide such an alternative (given the timing of everything, who knows if providing an adequate alternative is achievable).

It's hard to say exactly how the law would apply here considering the VDHA document indicates a heating emergency such as this requires immediate repairs by the landlord but is fuzzy on the acceptable window of time and the law is also not clear on if the landlord is required to provide an alternative.

Of course, while not ideal, it may be prudent to temporarily put the OP into a hotel until the repairs can be made.

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Nyves t1_j1rbc4e wrote

They can at least offer to cover some of the electric bill. They're the homeowner and their tenant doesn't have adequate heat. It's the landlord's responsibility to fix it and if contractors can't come out, then they have to do what they have to do. Put them up in a hotel/motel until the property is liveable, provide heated blankets or space heaters, put them in a vacant unit with an air mattress...

The tenant is literally paying the landlord to be responsible for moments exactly like this.

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