Toronto Renters Forum
Common Tenant Problems => Maintenance => Topic started by: Connie416 on March 27, 2022, 12:54:03 pm
-
We rent the main and upper floors of a house. We've had a succession of problems related to an improperly installed shower in the upper bathroom. It caused leaking in the downstairs bathroom that created mold. After several weeks, our landlord finally agreed to a mold inspector, and then the mold removal. Problem is the mold removal meant taking out part of our bathroom walls, as well as the shower ceiling and doors. And it's been sitting like that now for several weeks. It's going to cost upwards of $8,000 to fix it and that's why we think she's stalling. We love the place and want to stay, but also obviously want her to fix this as soon as possible. What is a good way to exert our rights in this situation?
Many thanks to anyone who can help.
-
Hi Connie,
I'd suggest applying some kind of ongoing resistance, the exact nature of which depends upon your landlord:
If your landlord is a "reasonable" person, then maybe just follow-up once or twice a week, asking for an update on the progress of the project.
If your lanldord is more of a jerk, then you could consider sending more agressive letters reminding them that you have a right to a well-maintained home, and that you could complain to the City (RentSafeTO) or the Landlord and Tenant Board, etc.
If things doen't get fixed after quite some time, and if you have warned your landlord that (1) you have the right to complain to the authoritises, and (2) that you are going to (after a suitable deadline has passed), then you might want to file a reoprt with the City (building standards).
To be honest, going to the Landlord and Tenant Board isn't likely to be very helpful – they'll take months (or years) to get around to scheduling a hearing by which time the project will surely have been finished, and they're pretty slanted in favour of the landlords, so you'll likely end-up not winning anyway. But hreatening your landlord that you could file a complaint with the landlord and tenant board may motivate them to get working on things.
-
I'd also recommend calling the FMTA tenant hotline and asking their experts for some advice.
They are at: 416-921-9494