Okay, here's the draft of my letter:
Notice of failure of landlord to maintain habitable conditions
[address}, New Orleans, LA, 70130
July 11th, 2011
Mr. Slumlord Dude:
In order for the house to be ready to move in, there should have been either a temporary legal meter or no meter at all, with any fines paid. On July 5th, 2011, I awoke to no running water. I provided you with oral notification of the situation via phone and voicemail that same day. In order for me to get a water meter, a permit must be filed, an inspection must be performed by a licensed plumber and a tampering fee paid to the Water and Sewage Board. To date, no inspection has been scheduled, nor has the fine been paid. I have been without water for six days.
I have contacted you repeatedly via phone to discuss the situation and request an expedited solution. I have not received a satisfactory response.
The lack of running water renders this apartment uninhabitable (c.f. Landlord's failure to maintain the apartment in a habitable condition. Freeman v. G.T.S. Corp., 363 So.2d 1247 (La. App. 4th Cir. 1978). Therefore, I am not held to the terms of my lease, and am within my rights to vacate the premises without penalty.
Thoughts?
I have not received a satisfactory response
Maybe be more explicit here?
Here you can move into a motel and bill the landlord if your residence is not habitable. I think you have to officially notify the landlord that you're doing this.
Edited a bit:
In order for the house to be ready to move in, there should have been either a temporary legal meter or no meter at all, with any fines paid. On July 5th, 2011, I awoke to no running water. I provided you with oral notification of the situation via phone and voicemail that same day. In order for me to get a water meter, a permit must be filed, an inspection must be performed by a licensed plumber and a tampering fee paid to the Water and Sewage Board.
I have contacted you repeatedly via phone to discuss the situation and request an expedited solution. You claim to have spoken to a plumber, and that he has filed a permit; to date, no inspection has been scheduled. I have been without water for six days. This is unacceptable.
Last paragraph stays the same.
Okay, 13 days' worth of sinus pain (including my goddamn TEETH) that hasn't really been alleviated by OTC stuff (of which I have taken a LOT) and a neti pot probably means Go To The Doctor, You Fool, right?
(In addition to The Cough That Never Ends.)
Steph, yes. Call right now, and get an appointment ASAP.
smonster, give me a minute to tinker with it...
Also, I think you need to make crystal clear what remedy you want: Are you terminating the lease? Are you withholding rent? Are you moving into a hotel and charging him?
{{{buffistas}}}
If you're looking for something positive to read about today, look up the US/Brazil game. I'm shocked that only one sportscaster so far has gone for, "US Waxes Brazil".
Yes, Teppy. Good luck getting an appointment and feel better soon.
