legal advice?

[hafital]

Hello mighty f-list --


I dropped off my iBook with the good folks at the Mac store today. Best case scenario is $300 fee to replace/fix the logic board. Worst case, the cost would escalate close to $1000, in which case I will opt to buy a new macbook.

My question to all of you is, do I have a right to seek compensation from my landlord? Since it was his leaky roof that rained all over my computer? The little bit of research I've done seems to indicate that tenant property damage is the responsibility of the tenant, but a lot of friends and family are telling me I should try to ask for him to repay.

Considering I'm generally a wimp when it comes to this sort of thing, I'd like to have my facts all straight before I call him.

I did speak to him yesterday (to tell him the roof was leaking AGAIN, but the roofers won't start fixing it till the rain stops, so that was't his fault, really) and I was going to bring up my dead computer to him, but I get the impression he's like that character from Angels in America, Roy Cohn with the 12 phone phonebank talking to 5 people at the same time. He did reassure me over and over and over again that as soon as it stops raining they're going to fix everything, which is fine, but then he had to get off the phone because the president was calling or something and he had to take the call so I couldn't have the conversation about my computer. bah.

What's the best way to approach this?? halp!

Comments

[lasultrix.livejournal.com]

Wow. With that much at stake, it's got to be worth a try.

I take it the situation was such that you couldn't just notice there was a leak and remove the computer to a safe place?

Even if research doesn't support your case, have a go anyway. Be relentless. It often works.

[hafital.livejournal.com]

Neither my roommate or myself were home for most of the day. :(

[lasultrix.livejournal.com]

This is perfectly reasonable. People have jobs/lives.

The trick with these things (I observe the Master of Refunds on a frequent basis) is to never vacillate, never apologise and never offer any explanations for things that don't need explaining.

[grey-bard.livejournal.com]

Do you have renter's insurance? If so, it might be covered.

[hafital.livejournal.com]

I do not have renter's insurance. :(

[destina.livejournal.com]

Make sure you aren't required by your lease to have renter's insurance. Unfortunately, many people don't notice or check before they sign. (Not that I'm saying you are average people. *g*) That will impact your request. Then send the landlord a letter, and politely ask for a portion or all of the cost, because the damage was due to maintenance issues that are the landlord's responsibility. I was going to suggest you ask him to cover your deductible, because I had assumed you had insurance. Because insurance is really your only protection against damage to your stuff. (That part was totally a hint. For the future.)

[hafital.livejournal.com]

I did go over the lease, and I'll double check but I don't think it requires insurance.

(That part was totally a hint. For the future.)

/o\ i know i know.

All right, I can write a letter. danko!

[lasultrix.livejournal.com]

Mileage might vary in other countries... politeness would get you nowhere in Ireland. Unless it's the Politeness of Icy Threaning Steel. A letter would just get conveniently mislaid, I think.

[klia.livejournal.com]

Stuff like structural maintenance/damage is the owner's responsibility, not the tenant's. You should definitely tell him the leak has possibly ruined your computer, and ask for reimbursement for repairs or replacement.

And get renter's insurance!

[falzalot.livejournal.com]

Oh man, that bites!!

In the bay area, we've got Project Sentinel. http://www.housing.org/ You may want to call and ask them if they know of something similar in LA.