Landlord hired someone to paint inside of the mobile home now only 1 window opens and the smoke detectors were never put back in over 6 months at least(Whidbey Island)

Submitted by strangehitman22 t3_122btb8 in Washington

Hi folks, I signed a rental agreement today, the landlord will replace the missing smoke detectors(There is a current tenant living here already) but how safe is it to move into a house if only a small window is able to be opened? Whoever painted the house did not do a very good job, none of the living room or bedroom windows can be opened. Should I wait for them to fix the windows or is it ok to move in now? Could I get someone to fix the windows and then send the bill to my landlord?

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Collie_Mom t1_jdptqeo wrote

You should've addressed these issues with the Landlord before signing the Lease. You can use a straight razor on the window seal to break/cut the dried paint to free up the window. It's also required by Law to have the proper amount of smoke/ Carbon monoxide detectors in the residence.

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strangehitman22 OP t1_jdqreg8 wrote

I addressed the smoke alarms, he'll fix them and he'll fix the windows(supposedly) I just want to find a way to make him get it done asap

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Collie_Mom t1_jdxbus6 wrote

So your choice to try to find a way to strong arm your Landlord, failed.🤷‍♀️

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[deleted] t1_jdqy6jt wrote

[removed]

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strangehitman22 OP t1_jdqz46i wrote

???

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[deleted] t1_jdqztwb wrote

[removed]

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strangehitman22 OP t1_jdr3wix wrote

Because it's been like this for at least six months

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BeKindDontBlind t1_jdr6d2x wrote

In your post, you asked if it was okay to move in now. What did you mean by that?

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strangehitman22 OP t1_jdr6glb wrote

I mean is it safe

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BeKindDontBlind t1_jdr6o6t wrote

No, it's not, especially if you have kids and there is a fire. And that's on you, not your landlord, if you knew the conditions existed and you moved in. Or did they paint after you moved in?

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strangehitman22 OP t1_jdr6rpe wrote

No, I haven't moved in yet

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BeKindDontBlind t1_jdr70vr wrote

So you signed the lease, gave a deposit, did the walkthrough, and the landlord wants you to move in before the windows and alarms are operational?

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strangehitman22 OP t1_jdr8aym wrote

No I can move in whenever despite it starting on the 1st of April

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BeKindDontBlind t1_jdr78vt wrote

Has the house been vacant?

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strangehitman22 OP t1_jdr7d5n wrote

Not vacant shockingly, it has a tenant rn, aka my roommate

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BeKindDontBlind t1_jdr7ruo wrote

This situation is confusing. So you are moving in with someone that has had stuck windows and no alarms for 6 months, and you want to try to bill the landlord?

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strangehitman22 OP t1_jdr9k8b wrote

that's... A very good point (I have no fucking clue what I'm doing 😭) for all I know the other tenant took them down at some point but I know for sure they did not paint the house (The tenant confirmed they hired someone to do it(

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BeKindDontBlind t1_jdrafx4 wrote

My guess is these are wood casement windows that were painted. The only thing the handyman is going to do is what someone else said and run a box knife type razor to break the paint seal.

If you want to start off on the right foot with the landlord and you can fix it yourself without much hassle, why wouldn't you?

Can you install a carbon monoxide detector yourself?

Are you dealing with an individual or a property manager?

If dealing with, let's say an elderly couple, are they not able to do it themselves? Have they tried hiring someone and just can't find anyone?

I would approach this as a partnership, and not start off adversarial and threatening to bill them over small, easy fixes.

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strangehitman22 OP t1_jdrbykn wrote

individual

>The only thing the handyman is going to do is what someone else said and run a box knife type razor to break the paint seal.

Thanks I'll try that

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kvrdave t1_jdr3ngo wrote

>Could I get someone to fix the windows and then send the bill to my landlord?

Yes, but it isn't quite as easy as that. You give written notice, there's a time frame, then you have it done, you pay for it, then you take it out of rent. Talk to a tenant group to find out exactly how it's done. /u/pullmantenantsunion is one that I know of.

Here's our state's Tenant Landlord Act

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