(no subject)

[mogwaikisses.livejournal.com]

Ok, snow confuses me. I have read the tagged posts -- someone complained that someone else didn't shovel / ice the sidewalk in front of their house, and they hurt themselves.

Who is responsible for that task? I rent in an 8-unit apartment building. Am I supposed to do that, since I'm on the first floor? Is there one designated resident to do that? Does the landlord bear the responsibility?

If I AM supposed to do it, where do I get salt? And what do you do, just sprinkle it all around?

I noticed a big blue barrel at the corner with sand in it. Can I use that, or is that a private barrel? It is right on the sidewalk on the street corner.

Also, what if there is a snow emergency declared, and it is street sweeping day on the odd side of the street? Does that mean you just can't park anywhere? I hear it is going to snow like mad Friday, and Friday is stupid street sweeping day.

I know I sound like a complete idiot, but seriously, there's no snow in Texas! At least, not like this...

Comments

[solarpanda.livejournal.com]

Snow is typically the responsibility of the landlord, though once I was able to negotiate a small discount in rent for shoveling snow for him. You can pick up salt at any home improvement store.

I'm not sure, but don't they typically suspend street cleaning once the first snow emergency hits? Maybe if street cleaning ended at the end of November like it used to we wouldn't have these questions (grumble grumble)

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

We've had bad snow in November before.

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

in my 20+ years of living in the boston area, the only times the landlord was ever responsible for property maintenance was when it was a large (4+ unit) building. these smaller 2- and 3-family houses in somerville, it's mostly up to the tenants by default, since the landlords are out in the 'burbs, or in another state.

in all cases, check the rental agreement, then double-check with your landlord if you're not sure.

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

The landlord is still legally responsible, even if the tenants are the ones who actually do the shoveling. When I lived in a 3-unit building, the people on the second floor had an arrangement with the absentee landlady, that they would clear the sidewalks in exchange for a slight discount on rent. If they didn't do it, the city would fine the property owner (who might then go after the tenants.)