Found an issue on this page? Let us know and we will look into it as soon as possible.
My landlord has flat out refused to replace the water heater that has burst. what can i do?
Anonymous3 views3 answers
the landlord has told me that she is a "single mother and can not pay for a new water heater." she said its "senseless". when notified about the water heater burst she said "your rent is cheap so the house is as is. you'll have to pay for the replacement yourself". what can i do? can i take it out of the rent? rent is 800$ and it costs 800-1000 to replace a water heater.
Who is responsible for replacement of the water heater is contained in the terms and provisions of your lease. If you do not understand your lease, bring it to a landlord/tenant attorney. It maybe possible that your landlord is responsible and a quick call to your village health or building inspection department could assist you.
You need to start by reading your lease to determine who is responsible for repairs. The repair appears to be too expensive to invoke the Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act.
You can contact the municipality, this is something serious enough that they will probably take action.
William Harold MazurLandlord / Tenant LawyerChicago, IL ·
The other attorney answers offer great advice re reading your lease, but I will add one thing. In Illinois all leases have an implied warranty of habitability that landlords must abide by. The warranty makes it an obligation of the landlord to ensure that the rented premises are suitable for human habitation. I think it's arguable that a lack of hot water makes your rental unit uninhabitable.
I think it would be a good use of your time to consult with a local landlord tenant attorney about your situation and discuss your options. You might be able to break your lease due to this if you wish to do so.
