Is the worth of the property taken into account when tenants need to make repairs in NC?
I’m a tenant in NC. I rent a 40 year old singlewide. The experts I’ve contacted said I was basically in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s the time when trailers really start falling apart. The value of the whole trailer is probably between 00 and 00 max, although I suspect it’s on the lower end. Several things have gone wrong…like the wood paneling has splintered in several rooms around the windows from water entering. This wasn’t noticeable until the wood was soft and splintered, because of the curtains over the windows and infrequent rain. I don’t know when they started leaking but apparently this is a common problem in old singlewides.
Am I going to be responsible for paying the full renovation price of the repairs? The full value is probably more than the home itself is worth, according to the landlady’s handymen. Or will the value of the property/depreciation be taken into account when determining how much I’m responsible for?
She has my 0 security deposit and I’m hoping to not have to pay her more than 0 extra.
My landlady has a history of trying to stick me with repairs that are NOT my fault. Like last year when the particle board floor crumbled in the bathroom…she tried to say that was my fault and said I was under eviction notice. The experts I contacted said it was NOT my fault, but I had to pay for the floors anyway because I had nowhere else to go. She blamed me for the 35 year old HVAC breaking a few years ago. She also broke the law by refusing to let me have a satellite dish outside. She originally gave me written permission, but came over when she saw the installation guy (she lives next door to me) and basically canceled my installation. I’m not perfect either, because my disabled son has caused some damage to the place. (When the wood paneling started splintering, he peeled some off, making the issue worse.) I do want to do what’s fair and pay for what I should, but I am hoping that NC law takes the actual value of the property into account. I think it’s reasonable for me to pay more than the security deposit, but I don’t think it’s fair for me to basically pay to renovate an almost 40 year old singlewide.
There are also other problems, like little bits of chipped wood from the unfinished cabinets and some scuffs. I think that’s ordinary wear and tear, considering how old the cabinets are and that it’s easy for that material to be damaged (the wood paneling on the cabinets was even thinner than the wood paneling on the walls). But the landlady’s handymen said I was responsible for replacing the cabinets completely.
As far as the walls, it’s a toss up. The original damage was probably from water dripping in. But my son did make the problem worse by picking off some more of the wood, and now they want me to pay for the walls. In their minds, since my son made it worse, it’s my responsibility. In my mind, the damage never would have been possible without the water damage.
Hardwood Flooring Related Blogs
Tags: curtains, handymen, infrequent rain, landlady, particle board, property depreciation, renovation, satellite dish, security deposit, singlewides, trailers, wood paneling, wrong place at the wrong time
September 15th, 2011 at 7:07 am
a 40 year old trailer is worth 0, not no $2000
The right to rent the lot is the only value.
The tenant is not responsible for repairing the wear and tear (old and falling apart).
If you have vacated she can not make you pay for any repairs at all, this place is not supposed to be livable anymore, and it isn’t.
If you have not vacated you will not be able to force useless renovations that exceed the value (which is nothing).
September 15th, 2011 at 7:07 am
If the windows are leaking, I don’t see how you would pay for any of it…. Just report the window leaks.
September 15th, 2011 at 7:07 am
it is the landlord’s responsibility to make sure you live in a place that can pass inspection, so call on the board of health, or the board of safety, and have them come out and inspect the place, and they will put your landlord on notice to get the place fixed up, so that it is livable..and anything you have paid out of your pocket, should be taken off of your rent..and you already have paperwork showing the other repair work you paid for is not your fault, and you could take the landlord to small claims court, to give your damage deposit back, and the money you spent for repairs, and you can break a lease at anytime with worry, if the landlord is not keeping the place fit to live in..so it is the landlord breaking the lease, and not you..so take your receipts, paperwork from before, and any witnesses you have, along with pictures of the living conditions.