(no subject)

[greenbeats.livejournal.com]

I know this isn't quite a Davis-themed post, but we live here. Let me know if it's too off-topic.

Long story short: clothes have been getting caught and basically ripped apart in our (aged) dryer that is provided in our apartment.

We finally got our landlord to come out here today and he worked on it for half an hour and claimed that it was all fixed. I ran it with all of our ripped clothes again when I got home from work and three tank tops got caught within ten minutes.

What's the best way to tackle this situation?

We're calling him back to let him know it isn't fixed, but this has been a perpetual problem that he avoids with "schedule" problems and being too "busy" to even return our phone calls.

PS: He doesn't speak very good English and is an old Italian man. This makes it even more difficult to communicate.

PPS: I guess I should add (since it kept coming up in this post in another community) our lease is not something that was written up by the landlord, it's a "MASS Form," or whatever the specific name is for those, so there aren't any building/apartment specific items listed.

Comments

[overstim.livejournal.com]

Look in your lease. If you were promised a working dryer, inform him that he has had plenty of chances, and youre not paying rent until he fixes it.

If a dryer isnt mentioned in your lease, youre S.O.L. Quit bitchin and go to the laundromat.

[greenbeats.livejournal.com]

The problem with that is that the lease is one of those "MASS Forms" (or whatever they are called, I can't remember exactly) that are so generic that nothing building/apartment-specific is mentioned at all.

[overstim.livejournal.com]

well then i guess youre screwed. The old me would tell you to grow a pair and make the guy's life hell till he fixes it, but the new, mellow me thinks you should just be thankful that at least you have a roof over your head in this holiday season :)

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

OTOH one can reasonably presume that items that are located in the apartment, are the property of the landlord, and are provided for the tenant's use, can be expected to be kept in working condition unless the landlord specifically disclaims responsibility. (As mine did with the huge wall-unit air conditioner in my place.) If the apartment comes with it, the landlord should have to maintain it in working order.

[dominika-kretek.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that this is indeed the case in Massachusetts, form lease or no.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Indeed. It seems unreasonable to expect a lease to call out every fixture and/or appliance in the apartment.

[cemeterygates.livejournal.com]

My solution would be to offer to buy a new unit for the building in exchange for a reduction in rent (i.e. if you buy a $300 unit, you take $50 off your rent for the next six months). That's usually the best way to deal with independent and cheap landlords, in my experience.

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

Not much help here - I have my own in-apartment machines (that I bought)

But I can't image how a dryer is ripping up clothes. It's not like there are sharp edges inside there (one presumes...). I can't imagine what it could be getting caught on.

[greenbeats.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's ridiculous. They get caught in-between the spinning barrel on the inside and the "back wall" so to speak. And then get ripped to shreds because other things get tangled around them and drag them around while they are caught.

Of course, I wish I were a dryer wizard and knew what that meant and how to fix it!

Repair Clinic

[didgeridoo48.livejournal.com]

You'll likely find your answer at http://www.repairclinic.com

I looked into the "What is wrong with your Dryer?" section under the "My clothes are marked or torn" heading and it sounds like you have a problem with one or more of the following:
Rollers
Rear seal
Front glides
Front seal

I've used their site before to take apart my dryer and replace a worn belt (used to turn the drum). Cost me $30 or so for the belt and I didn't have to pay someone to fix it. I'd pass this info along to your landlord and see what happens.

Good luck!

Re: Repair Clinic

[spicysurprise.livejournal.com]

sorry this is off topic- but I was just going to post about this today.
I have to replace the belt for my washing machine. ANy idea where I can buy a new belt around here?

Re: Repair Clinic

[didgeridoo48.livejournal.com]

Try Marcone Appliance Part in Malden. They're the best around. The staff are very helpful in locating the right part, but try to get as many details as you can from the Repair Clinic website. Also, it may be worth calling ahead to see if they have the part you need in stock.

http://www.marcone.com/locations.aspx

Malden store is located at
298 Medford St
Malden, MA 02148

Phone: 800-482-6022

[kglue.livejournal.com]

I would be wary of trying to take too hard of a stance with the landlord if it is just the generic MASS form that has been signed. I believe that those only guarantee that there is a working fridge and stove ... so other appliances that appear to be "included" do not actually have to be there and are not a part of the lease.

... at least that's my understanding of it all ...

But seeing as how he is trying to fix it, perhaps he's amiable to buying a new one or at least splitting the cost of one.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

It's been a couple years, but I seem to recall that a tactic my roommates and I used to prod our landlord into dealing with a washing machine problem was to remind him that we would not have rented the place if it didn't have a working laundry setup. His view had been, "Well, it isn't working, and I can't seem to figure it out, so maybe I'll just remove it entirely." Anyway, it did get resolved, though I don't remember the details at this point.