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Re: New Fridge - Rent Increase????

Posted by TenantNet on September 22, 1997 at 15:32:59:

In Reply to: New Fridge - Rent Increase???? posted by Lala on September 22, 1997 at 12:48:40:

: We have asked the landlord for a new refrigerator stating that this one
is broken and it needs to be replaced. He gave us the following option.
Get another one exactly as our existing one, get a ***frost free*** for a
$5 assessment on the rent, or buy our own refrigerator and take it with
us when we leave. Can he do this? With ****frost free**** refrigerators
costing as little as $350, can he assess a $5 luxury assessment to replace
it. Especially since the city would have a field day on the various other
maintenance violations? We haven't asked for any other repairs thus far
as we do it ourselves with our own money. (So far, more than the cost of
a new refrigerator.) PS: We are also paying market rent.

So what does the term "market rent" really mean? Anyone got a clue
(no, don't quote from Samuelson). Since there is no "free market" where
tenants have a choice, it's essentially what the owner wants, or greeds over.

As for the refridge, it appears he's giving you an honest deal. If you
are stabilized (you can be stabilized and still pay "market"), then the
choice is that the owner must repair the existing refridge, if possible,
replace it with a working like model or, if he cannot obtain a working
used model, then replace with a new model. If he can't repair or get
a working used model, then the landlord's option (not yours) is a new
model with no rent increase. Your rights are to have a working refrigerator.
If he wants to offer you a new model with a rent increase, but you would
be satisfied with a repair or used one, then say no and take the latter.
You might still end up with the new one with no rent increase. If you
want a new one definitely, then that's the price. Rent Stab increases
are 1/40th of the cost, so $5 sounds a bit less than what is allowable.
As for buying your own, I'm surprised. If he's offering that get his
offer in writing or have him OK it in writing. I've seen owners take
tenants (rent stab) to court when they buy their own, based on a breach
of lease. It's ludicrous, but that's the system.

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