Landlord Didn't Fix Furnace, Pipes Broke

[Kate B.]

I'm a real estate investor and a tenant. The past six weeks the heat in my apartment has been erratic, sometimes with the furnace just not working. The landlord downstairs found a way to get it working for a day, and then it's out again. Last time, I came back from a 17 day vacation (that I told the landlord I was going on) to find the heat not working, the indoor temperature had gone down to 42 degrees, and the landlord and his wife were on a Caribbean vacation. Four days later, the heat was back on. Then it went out again two more times, and it happened when the outside temperature was below zero.

Yesterday and today there were four broken pipes. I have some damage to my belongings, mostly books.

I didn't want to hijack other broken pipe threads with my question. Does anyone have any thoughts on me deducting Airbnb costs (where I go when there's no heat and/or burst pipes) and high utilities -- landlord has five space heaters going in my apartment to prevent more broken pipes going forward - and replacing damaged things?

Also, if I wanted to move out, what's the best way to do it?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Matt K.]

This is why you have renters insurance...or you should have it.