Last Friday I figured out that the reason we get grit and residue on our dishes is because the bottom rack is rusted through in 3 places and crumbles when you even touch it. I emailed the rental manager, who responded quickly and nicely that they'd order us a new rack. So now it's Wednesday, we've been doing all our dishes by hand and hadn't heard anything. I sent an email asking for an update, the manager told me "it's backordered, we'll let you know when we know something." Unacceptable!
Well, I went online and found two places that said it's in stock, and could ship today! I want this part and I want it as quick as possible, but I'm not sure how to handle it with the manager. I stupidly already mailed the Sept rent check, and don't really want to get aggressive or threatening, but I want to be clear that this needs to be taken care of faster. I think my options are to : 1) send her the links I found and ask her to follow up with one (but she could choose the cheapest shipping and then I'm waiting another week), 2) go ahead and order it and have it shipped tomorrow, then tell her after the fact that I'll be taking it out of Oct rent.
what would you do?
I would never withhold a rent check for something like this, the only possibility was paying for the part and deducting the amount from the rent, which I'm hoping may still happen.
I doubt it's under warranty, it has to be pretty old to have rusted through and start crumbling. I also think that it IS their legal responsibility to keep the dishwasher in working order -- it's listed on my lease as an included feature of the property, whatever anyone thinks about its importance, it's part of the deal we agreed to. And giving me no information about the schedule of the replacement is not reasonable to me, PLUS the fact that I had to follow up to even get that much information is just poor customer service, years in retail and client-based business makes me think that way -- I would never make someone wait and beg to get a clear answer from me.
But I am holding those thoughts back and sending a straightforward email with the links to where I saw the part available. I offered to order/deduct it, I'll see what happens. Thanks for the input.
They may have a contract with a specific commercial retailer that doesn't have the particular part in stock. You can just call and let her know where you found the item and see what she says as it relates to the timing between the sites you found and the company she is using.
You don't know what the situation is yet for the property manager and she's still well within legal limits to get the repair done. As someone else said, there could be a contract with the dishwasher company or they have to use certain channels for this sort of thing.
It hasn't even been a week yet, so how in the world is that "unacceptable?" What's she's told you and how she's handling it is perfectly acceptable. The fact is that you're being impatient and would simply like instant gratification. You want what you want and you want it now... but you're not necessarily entitled to it immediately when it's not a dire repair. I mean seriously... it's not a burst pipe nor sparking wires nor smoking outlets all of which I had to deal with as a renter and had to convince my property manager to "find time" to come check out.
It wasn't "stupid" to send in your rent check. That's money owed and unless it's in your rental agreement that you would purchase replacement pieces in the home and then deduct them from rent you can't just do that. Do NOT just go ahead and order it and "take out of the next rent check," That's bad renting. You're able to hand wash the dishes, so do so until the property manager does what she's paid to do.
They don't have to buy the rack where you want nor do they have to have it in yesterday. At this point they are well within their legal limits.
You could mention that you have found a couple discount websites that have the rack in stock and ask if it would be okay to order it and deduct the costs from the October rent check. They may say yes.
They are given reasonable time to make repairs, you are being unreasonable.
Your what happened makes you sound like a petulant child.
The rules very from state to state. But here in Texas, if you withhold part of the rent without getting written consent from the landlord, it can be considered not paying rent. Which could lead to eviction. THis is why many landlords will not take partial payment for rent.
As far as the part, if the dishwasher is under a warranty, your landlord may be telling you the truth. When my warrantied dishwasher broke, I was told the part was back ordered for six months. I could buy it other places, but it was very expensive.
As annoying as it is...and I KNOW how annoying it is. We waited about a year to get a replacement dishwasher. I do catering and cake decorating. Hand washing is NO fun! As annoying as it is, a dishwasher is not something a landlord is mandated to fix. A dishwasher is considered a matter of convenience.
I would contact the manager again and ask if the part could be ordered from one of the sites you have found. I think you are right about not wanting to be aggressive. I am much more willing to work with tenants in our rental property that want to work with me than those who go on attack mode. Ask her if you can order it and withhold the amount for the part from next month's rent. If she agrees, you are covered. I would be very careful about taking the money out without permission. If she chose to pursue it, you could be in legal trouble. Hopefully she will agree. GL!
I'm an apartment manager and we have to use certain vendors when we purchase things. Sometimes it is time consuming waiting on delivery or even getting approval from the property owner to purchase what we need. Dishwashers are not a priority since they are considered a luxury. If your sink was leaking that would be a different story. Just keep reminding your manager about the rack, or tell her you found one and how much it costs and ask her if you can take it off the rent, but keep in mind that she/he has to answer to the property owner and it's not his/her call to allow you to do that. You cannot withhold rent for something like this... you can only withhold rent if you cannot live in the unit due to something dangerous.... and even then you have to provide in writing a 30 day notice that you are withholding rent until the dangerous thing is fixed.
Your "what happened" makes me glad you arent one of my tenants. Nothing worse than an impatient, entitled attitude. I've been a tenant myself a few times and if it's that important to you why dont you just buy the rack and let it go, sheesh. I don't get it when tenants come to my office and excpect free lightbulbs either. Replace your own lightbulbs people!
What I would do is email the manager and tell him/her that you found one that is in stock and if it's "OK" with them if you go ahead and order it and deduct the final cost out of next months rent check. They may use a certain company due to cost issues. So don't go behind their back without their permission and order this and demand that they pay for it. If you do order this before getting permission to do so, it may cause a scuffle. I would just do dishes by hand and let them take care of it in the way they want to handle it, or ask permission to get it faster at their cost.
Never withhold a rent check because of something like this. You would actually be in the wrong in doing so.
PS: If something is on backorder, it's rare that they have a explicit answer as to when it will arrive. Sometimes companies cannot estimate that. So if the company doesn't have that info, then your manager won't have information to give to you. Even if it's in your lease, your manager is doing what he/she is suppose to.
With your years in retail and client based businesses, you must remember that not everything happens right away like we wish it would. As others have mentioned they may be held to a specific vendor. Sometimes the answers are just not known yet, would you prefer that she make one up to keep you happy? I realize you want this part and as fast as possible but I find it very unlikely that they will pay expedited freight charges to get your rack. Really, it's not Nordstrom.
The management company most likely have accounts with certain places and have to go through them. I am an apartment manager and we have an appliance parts place we have to use. Its been less than a week, dishwashers are not on the top priority list (1st priority would be toilets, hot water etc). If you didn't pay your full rent you would be served with a 3 day notice, bad idea. Just relax, if she is being nice about this whole thing, you should treat her with the same kindness.
If you don't pay your full amount of rent then he can evict you. You do not have his permission to buy replacement parts for his property. The law is on his side here. You are going to have to be patient.
BTW, I think the grit is throughout the entire dishwasher at this point so take out the rack and run the dishwasher with some dishes on the top rack, if the grit is still there then the whole dishwasher needs to be replaced, not just the rack. The hoses and drain is full of the debris.
My advice would be to not get upset. Communicate in writing to your rental manager that the rusted item is causing your dishes to break and you really need something immediately. Let them know that you have found several options that are available now and you are happy to/and will be purchasing the item, taking the money for it out of Oct rent and providing them with the receipt. Done. Take care.
You'd better check with someone before you try to take it out of your rent. It hasn't even been a week yet, so it is still a "reasonable" period of time. I would forward the links to her; she very well may choose a longer delivery period but you have no control over that. I think I would give it another couple of weeks before I threatened to take it out of the rent. If you really make her mad, you could be setting yourself up for eviction! Tread carefully! A dishwasher is not like have faulty electricity or heater and I don't know if they are "required" to fix it since it is non-essential.
Hi, I'm a property manager and thought I'd share a few thoughts (and forgive me if this posts twice, I posted and it seems to have disappeared).
I'm sorry for your frustrations, I hope they are resolved quickly.
Keep in mind that you cannot deduct an expense from the rent without the managers prior approval. If you send in a rent check that is not the full amount, you could be charged a late fee since it was not paid in full. It also sounds like the manager has already ordered the part so it is unlikely that they would approve the deduction.
You can talk to the manager about the links you found but they may or may not be very receptive. It is very likely that they have a long standing relationship with a supplier.
A dishwasher is not required as a quality of life item in a rental. Frustrating though it is, this is a minor repair and paitence may be your best path at this point.
I know it is inconvenient but hang in there. Keep in touch with your landlord.
Good luck!
Recently (6 months) dishwasher formulations have changed so as to not include phosphates. As a result, dishes simply aren't getting as clean!
Because you simply don't know if the new rack will solve the problem, is it really worth all your impatience for a $100 item?
