How many days does a landlord have to repair or respond to or call of broken hot water heater?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
How many days does a landlord have to repair or respond to or call of broken hot water heater?
Asked on January 9, 2013 under Real Estate Law, Florida
Answers:
B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Florida doesn't set a specific time frame for how long a landlord has to respond to a phone call to repair a water heater. However, there are time-lines associated with a written request to repair. A tenant can send a detailed letter requesting repair of the water heater at least seven days before the rent is due. If the Landlord does not repair in that time frame, the tenant may have the water heater repaired by a third party and then deduct the expense for the repairs from the next rent check.
Before you do this-- you may be able to get someone to help you. Florida does have agencies responsible for code enforcement, sometimes called Property Safety Division. Contact the city and see what their complaint procedures are. Often, landlords will respond more quickly to their requests to avoid a fine.
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Unless the presumed written lease agreement that you have with the landlord sets forth a time period for response to a broken item in the rental, under the laws of all states in this country the time period for a landlord to repair or respond to a call of a broken water heater is a reasonable "time period" under the circumstances.
In any event, most likely the passage of more than three (3) days or so from notice would not be deemed a reasonable time period.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.