[girlcrazy_420]

We've been without water going on 3 days now as our pipes in our house have frozen solid. Our landlord insisted on cranking the heat but now he isnt answering his phone when we call. He said there is nothing that can be done but wait untill warmer weather... 2ndly our septic field is full and it is oozing out and across our driveway... about 30ft in length of this shit. He also it not willing to empty the tank since the 2 houses on the property will be getting torn down next fall for construction.

So, we've found a new place to move to... but we're on a contract and dont want to lose our damage deposit. There is also another 9 days or so untill the end of the month and we've got no water. What to do?? The Tenancy offices are closed till monday and we cant shower... and subtracting motel use etc off of next month dosnt apply as we no longer want to live here. This is the 2nd time our pipes have frozen since winter started.

[Ulic Qel-Droma]

for showering for now go to a friends house or community center (pool or something).

[phatpower]

call the tendency act to see were you sit before you go any were and tell them to send some one out to look at if they can send them.

[Noir]

call the tendency act

:lol

[girlcrazy_420]

Uber gay... the wife dosnt like shitting ontop of 4 piles of shit. HA! I wonder if I can somehow get back my months rent.

[johny]

I hope all you stuff is in water proof bags... good chance the pipes are now cracked. and as soon as the ice melts, the pipes will be leaking in the house....

[murd0c]

take pics doccument it all and move. He can't come after you with the evidence you will have

[girlcrazy_420]

Dosnt look like much, but this is our driveway. It is slushy SHIT run off from our septic field. I dont think it should be like this... and it fucking STINKS but once again our landlord told us that we get to deal with it untill the contract is up. There are literally chunks of poo in there.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/Impulse_rs/IMG00337.jpg

[skyxx]

That's is disgusting....

[Vansterdam]

that totally blows, i can feel your pain for the cold down here, outside is horrible

[quasi]

Judge Judy, take pictures and notes with dates and she will own your landlord on national TV. I've seen people from the lower mainland on there before so your GTG, DO IT!

[racerman88]

as a renter, you have a lot of rights. The tenants association can help you out regarding these essential things that everybody should have. Just be prepared for a bit of a fight though with your landlord. Document everything and take pictures.

[!Tigger]

phone ctv!!

[girlcrazy_420]

Talked to interior health and the tenancy board today. I was told that even under the current circumstances of no water... I still MUST give one months notice. Come the 1st of the month, i still MUST pay rent or he can go to arbitration and get it thru the courts if I refuse to pay. Even tho him and I talk on a daily basis, there is nothing in writing that I have complained about the situation. Looks like I'm going to get fucked over on this one as we're just going to leave. Week and a half of no water and no compensation, and we most likely will not be getting our damage deposit back as we're breaking the rental agreement. It says in the agreement under Landlord convenents that he is to keep our house to safe and healthy standards... even tho he has broken his part of the contract I was told I still can not leave early. Fuck this shit about tenants having more rights...

[johny]

get a bucket, fill it with crap from the driveway. write you next months check. put it in a zip lock bag with a few rocks. put in bucket. when he comes for the check on the first, hand him the bucket, and tell him it's inside.

[alex.w *//]

phone ctv!!

phone global bc, city tv, cbc etc

[girlcrazy_420]

Went and talked to him. Lease is over but we dont get damage deposit.

[FiveDime]

Went and talked to him. Lease is over but we dont get damage deposit.




Well if your not getting the deposit back, might aswell smash a few holes in the wall. Get your moneys worth through venting frustration

[girlcrazy_420]

Humerous that after we tell him that we're moving out things start to work again. I came home and our landlord was standing in our kitchen... I wasnt impressed. But he starts to mumble that the water is turned on again and that our pipes where frozen but not from us. The nabors took the heating blanket off the main connection and it froze at the main house on the property. Go figure... Meanwhile we're almost packed and dont want to un-pack.

[johny]

$10 says he's doing it all on purpose to get you out. doesn't he want to smash them all down? I bet he starts as soon as you leave. he'll be happy you're out early.

[6793026]

he did that so the pipes won't freeze.
it is his responsibilities to maintain it.
Yes you have to give him enough notice and you can't leave.
what you can do is this.
1) tell him you won't pay rent. He can go to tenancy court and go thru it. it takes 2 mths to even get a court date. and the worse he can do is to pay 50 bucks additional for processing fee / interest.
2) tell him if your pipes BURST and floods your apartment, you will be calling in the MOST expensive plumber as this is an EMERGENCY and you weren't there. He willl have to pay for the bills or you can DEDUCT it from rent as this is a 'reasonable' emergency matter.
keep your bills. he can fight you in court for that.
3) Inform him and keep records. If this happens again, you will call a plumber EACH time and you will continue to NOT pay full rent. He can go and sue you thru tenancy court.

[nipples]

do NOT withhold rent!!

your options are this:
call 3 places for estimates (hourly rate + inspection). tell the lowest one to come in. even if it's only off by a dollar.
while the repair guy is there, call your landlord 3x and on speaker phone (get one that is bonded and insured).

get the work done and deduct the bill from the rent. make certain to inform your landlord of this.

You are obligated to call your landlord 3x prior to having any emergency repairs done. You must also go with the lowest quoted price. You are also required to inform your landlord that you will be subtracting the repair costs from the rent.

Make sure to get the contact number of the repair man and be nice to him. he'll be your friend in rental court if it goes there.

[nipples]

^nvm you're moving out.

[girlcrazy_420]

We moved out, first post back with internet. Him and I got into a verbal arguement today as he's withholding it. Wife and I Did a miraculous clean, cleaner than when we first moved in (minus stains on the carpet) But somehow I guess he always has his wife clean at $100/hr and he'll need 2hours more cleaning and subtracted $50 for a broken door than bitched at me that the nabours dog got into the garbage (at the curb for garbage day) and destroyed it. Said I had to come to pick it up... I no longer live in the same town so I refused.

[Dragon-88]

Time to stick the neighbours hose in the mailbox slot...

[nipples]

so long as the garbage was properly taken care of, it is not your responsibility what happens to it.

if the dog did it, he can go after the neighbours and ask that the dog come pick it up.

Sounds to me like he's pinning everything on you because he pegs you for the type to take it. Bear in mind, you still have recourse. you are able to file a retroactive tenancy dispute with your landlord 2years after the move out date. Basically, make an excel sheet, jot down all problems you had which were discussed with your landlord. your pictures are amazing and will go a long way. You will need to pick up (or download) the dispute resolution form from the RTA. The cost for filing is ~100cdn which you can claim to have your landlord pay.
What you will do on the excel is tabulate each month's problems and the cost (%) of the months rent.

For example: let's say your rent is 1000 a month. But you had no running water..a big factor..you will treat that as 40% (it's up to you). if you had no water for the whole month then that is 40% of 1000. and under that column you will enter $-400. Let's say then the septic tank blew out. now you have no toilet (i'd say toilets be 25%). and the smell...i'd say that's 20%. essentially then you're subtracting 85% off of 1000. and do this for each month you stayed there.

In the end you will add up the months and enter that into the box. You should also include the excel sheet and file it.

IMPORTANT: your landlord must NEVER! i mean NEVER! come into contact with this paper or information. By taking steps with the RTA, they are assuming ALL responsibilities for mediating and contacting. If your landlord is shown the paper, you will receive NOTHING! I can't stress that enough. If your neighbours were privy to any of the information about your landlord (you complaining to them while coming home, using their water, etc) you can list them as witnesses.

There is no limit to the amount you can claim so long as it does not exceed the amount of rent paid. If you are seeking damages, that is a separate issue and requires a different form.

Let me know if you need more info or help.

[Manic!]

Legally he has to give you your damage deposit back Unless he has wants to go threw arbitration.

http://www.rto.gov.bc.ca/content/rightsResponsibilities/security.aspx#122

1.2.2 When does the tenant get the security deposit and pet deposit back?

Unless the landlord has the tenant's written consent to keep all or part of a deposit or has an outstanding dispute resolution officer's order that can be applied against the deposit, the landlord must return the deposit plus interest within 15 days after the tenancy ends, or apply for dispute resolution with the Residential Tenancy Branch to make a claim against the deposit. The 15 day period commences when the tenancy ends or the tenant provides a forwarding address in writing, whichever is later.

Landlords' claims for damages and a tenant's right to the return of the security deposit are affected by the completion of a Condition Inspection Report at the start and end of the tenancy. Claims for damages can be made regardless of completion of a Condition Inspection Report.