Air Conditioning not fixed after a week

Air Conditioning not fixed after a week

Austin, TX · Member since 2017 · 4 posts · 0 votes

OK, so I understand A/C maintenance calls are supposed to be emergencies. Here's my problem:

Last Sunday, I made an emergency call, that my A/C was not working, I live in Texas en it is extremely hot. They came that same day and brought a medium size portable A/C that was connected in my living room. Although it kind of work, at least for the living room, it was still extremely hot in both rooms (my 4 year old's room and mine). I expected something to be done about it on Monday. So I called the office on Monday, and they said that maintenance was supposed to go to the apartment. I came home after work and it was not fixed, I called them again and they said that they had other emergency call and they were dealing with those first. Come Tuesday, and same thing, I called Wednesday and they told me that maintenance was just leaving my apartment, I assumed it meant that they had fix the A/C. Notice that they never called me, instead they sent me an email accusing me that I had someone unauthorized living in my apartment, all because I had asked a friend to pick up my mail for me. Still no one reached out to me about the A/C problem. It started raining on Wednesday afternoon so their excused up until today is that they could not work on my A/C when it was raining. I called them again today (Friday) and they had no idea what was going on and told me they were going to call me back. They didn't, so I after 1hour 1/2 I called them again, and they said that the compressor broke down, so they were going to order the piece on Monday!!!! and HOPE that it can be delivered by Tuesday. I have no idea why they didn't order the piece on WEDNESDAY when they knew what was going on.  At this point I am extremely mad, I was not rude whatsoever, I just told them that how it was possible that I had to wait another week, for my A/C to be fixed. They told me that maintenance did not worked on the weekends, so I told them that I knew a technician that could find the part needed and repair the A/C on the weekend, and if they would pay him for the work. They told me that whatever work was done at my expense would not be refunded. So I am supposed to stay without A/C, until next week, and according to them it is ok because they provided me with a portable A/C, which I am not paying 1,280.00 a month to have a portable A/C.

I am not sure what I can do at this point. Any advice?? I contacted corporate and I am waiting to hear back, but I do not know where I stand legally.  By the way I know it was not stated at the beginning, but I live in an apartment complex with big corporate office (MAA).

Thank you!

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Real Estate Agent/Property Management · Houston, TX · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 827 votes
9y

It is not true that AC repairs are considered emergencies in Texas. If you signed a standard TAR lease it actually says that in the lease.

Not that I'm unsympathetic to your situation. AC problems in Texas are the worst and we try to get them fixed as quickly as possible.

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  • Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2016 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    9y

    I'd recommend stopping by the office on Monday to ensure that the part was ordered and then go to the office every day until it is fixed...forget calling.  Calling corporate, as you have done, is not a bad idea either.  Then, you just have to decide if you want to continue living there when your lease term is up.  Not much you can do.

    On a side note, I don't follow the need for a friend to pick up mail from a locked mailbox but maybe it is set up differently.

  • Real Estate Broker · Temecula, CA · Member since 2014 · 994 posts · 783 votes
    9y

    You are in a little bit of a tough spot.  Most places do not give a portable AC, they will just fix the problem.   

    It's been hot, but not crazy hot, so 1 week is pretty reasonable, especially when they gave you a portable one to bring down the temperature a little. 

    Even if you owned the place, you would have needed to order the replacement part and hire someone to put it in.  

    I would politely follow up each day to see the status.  Be nice. It will get things done more quickly. 

  • Real Estate Agent · Cupertino, CA · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    Then tried to resolve it with an "equivalent". If it is a health issue move into a motel. It is hard to prove it at court that landlord did not do anything.  Ask the management if they can give you a small break due to stress on next month rent. 

    We have 115 deg F hot spell the units are not even air conditioned. The landlord did not hear a single complaint from multiple tenants.  Tenants and landlord all learned to live with it.

  • Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    9y

    Ok they did bring a window unit .  Thats a plus .  I have to look at it this way if it were a house that you owned , and the AC went out and everyone was busy and then they showed up and had to order  parts  you would have to wait .   Sometimes it takes time to fix things . 

  • Investor · Hyattsville, MD · Member since 2012 · 822 posts · 441 votes
    9y

    how about you ask for a 2nd portable unit or window units for one/both of the bedrooms? You cant make the compressor component ship faster from the vendor which they have no control. I've gone through this before as a landlord. Service company goes over and diagnoses the unit, but doesnt call owner or Property manager about the results. PM finally calls to see whats up and then they finally agree to order compressor. Compressor always takes 3-5 days to get shipped. then schedule the repair 24-48 hours afterward. Things don't always come together perfectly. If its going to be another week, window units should be satisfactory. good luck.

  • Austin, TX · Member since 2017 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    9y

    Thank you all for the response. I am not even complaining on the heat because it has been raining so it's fine. What gets me mad, is the lack of communication. They knew of the problem since Monday. If they would've ordered the piece by then, and they told me it would take that long to deliver I wouldn't say anything. I understand that, I am pretty easy going with all of that. After me calling every single day once or twice, they finally told me that the compressor was down, and they needed to order the piece on MONDAY. Not even today or tomorrow, but Monday! What sucks is that my apartment is in a location where it takes a direct hit from the sun, so it gets super hot inside the apartment, even if outside is a little cooler. So I know starting tomorrow that will be the case, I mean I come from an extremely hot country where having an A/C is a luxury, but I feel like I am paying a very HIGH rent, so I am expecting for everything to work good. Also, I have a technician that can fix the problem tomorrow, but then he would not get reimbursed for it. I asked them if that was a possibility, and their response was that any services done by me, would not be reimbursed. Also, I did ask them for a second portable, and they said that there were no more available.  Also, about the mail, I have a pretty tight schedule, so sometimes it's hard for me to pick up mail (that was delivered to the office, not mailbox)   on time before the office closes. That's why I ask a friend to sometimes pick it up for me. 

  • Real Estate Agent/Property Management · Houston, TX · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 827 votes
    9y

    It is not true that AC repairs are considered emergencies in Texas. If you signed a standard TAR lease it actually says that in the lease.

    Not that I'm unsympathetic to your situation. AC problems in Texas are the worst and we try to get them fixed as quickly as possible.

  • Augusta, GA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    " I feel like I am paying a very HIGH rent, so I am expecting for everything to work good."

    Unfortunately, parts in items such as HVAC units break sometimes, even if you're paying HIGH rent.

    Gail

  • Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    9y

    The furnace died in one of my rentals , Done , heat exchanger went . Its in a crawl space . I gave the tenants electric heaters . The crawl space needed to be dug out , furnace ordered , and the service guy was busy it wa winter . It was also Christmas week . It took 10 days start to finish . ( 3 days to dig out crawl space to make the area workable)    The tenants lived . 

    Things happen , you are renting an apartment , not staying in a 5 star hotel . Sometimes things take time 

  • Greg H.Pro Member
    Moderator
    Broker/Flipper · Austin, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:

    @Maria Jaramillo I think you should sue the landlord and ask for a jury trial and let the jury award you damage and you have children and post the landlord's info.

     Trolling as per usual. Sue for what?  If a compressor has to be ordered then it may take some time. Texas Property code states that air conditioning is NOT an emergency!

    Now, if the OP has given proper notice in writing and given a reasonable time to repair than they have some options.  Although, the code gives extra time for circumstances beyond ones control such as waiting for parts the options are:

    Repair the item and deduct from the rent although this is limited to one months rent

    Terminate the lease

    So please John/Joe enlighten us all with the legal precedent for suing if repairs are not completed within a week?

  • Austin, TX · Member since 2017 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    9y

    Ok, first according to the apartment complex they do treat AC issues as an emergency. Also, I do not have an issue for waiting for the part. I get that it takes time, if they were to tell me on that they alreafy ordered the part when they saw what was wrong with the AC (which was Monday)  and tell me that it takes so many fays for it to arrive I would be fine. I understand that. As mentioned before I come from a country where having an AC was a privilege BUT I am at least expecting honesty. I have been calling them since Monday, because they never took the initiative to call me and tell me what was going on. They knew that the compressor was the issue by Wednesday, and I know they couldn't work on it because it was raining, but they could've at least order the compressor by Wednesday even if it takes a week or two for it to arrive, but instead I had to call them again yesterday (Friday) just to tell me that they will order the compressor on Monday and hope it arrives before the end of the week. I don't want to sue anybody, again I understand situations change and things take time, but the carelessness and lack of communication is what gets me.

  • Greg H.Pro Member
    Moderator
    Broker/Flipper · Austin, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:

    @Greg H. Tone your post by calling me Joe, who I never heard of, and I know you take up for landlords and try and low rate the tenants. Anyone can sue anytime for anything. Your response on trolling is uncalled for.

     While anyone can sue, please show any precedent for your recommended actions?

    While I am a landlord, I advocate for what is lawful based on my 27 years of experience in Texas

    Finally,  many of us know it's you Joe. If you would like, when I get back from vacation I will be happy to take the time to prove it. As someone who was banned, do you want that?

  • Greg H.Pro Member
    Moderator
    Broker/Flipper · Austin, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    9y

    The kicker is neither are your real name.  I am still waiting on the precedent thing. Since both Joe and John rubbed elbows with all the judges in DFW that should be easy to find

    Additionally, Since both Joe and John both were experts at skip tracing, you should be able to pull up all my info over your morning coffee

  • Rental Property Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2017 · 185 posts · 178 votes
    9y

    I understand what people are saying. But that is poor communication skills on their part no matter how long it takes the part to get there. It's a plus they brought the window unit. I'm not sure what the legal steps are or if there are any at all. I do suggest following up every day. Get them to give you a specific day on which it will be fixed. That's nonsense that they are pushing it off and giving you different answers. I lived in a room without AC for two weeks. Worst two weeks ever. Good luck to you!

  • Austin, TX · Member since 2017 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    9y

    Hey Wil, I know! I wouldn't be mad if I had at least a date on when it would be fixed, but all they did  was tell me after a week that they were going to ORDER the part in Monday (today) a week after I made the request. Thanks for your reply! 

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