Advice Needed: Landlord May Have Ruined My Personal Property

Submitted by JasJoeGo t3_zghlz8 in massachusetts

We live on the top floor of a two-family house with the landlord on the ground floor. My landlord had the roof replaced and didn't put a tarp down on all the stuff my wife and I had stored in the attic. I just went up there and it's covered in debris. Dust, nails, broken wood...absolutely covered. I'm worried it's never getting out of the fabric on some items up there.

Up to now, we've been extremely friendly with the landlord and wife. He and I often sit in the backyard and share a beer and we're on very good terms. This is going to be a difficult issue to navigate. We have six months to go on the lease. I am really angry and not sure what my options are here, and since he also lives in the house it could get awkward.

Any advice would be helpful. Thank you.

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[deleted] t1_izgx0ge wrote

"Hey bud, would you mind come checking this out and tell me what you think"

The ball is in his court and you were cool about it.

We've had several roofs repaired and that's kind of par for the course (dust and debris, especially if they have to cut a ridge vent.) You'd be surprised at how easily sawdust and the like are cleared off items using compressed air. I bet you'll be fine.

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JasJoeGo OP t1_izgxuwv wrote

Thanks. I’m reassured by this response. I’m really pissed that he didn’t put a tarp on our stuff or warn us. Was very casual about the whole thing.

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Lucybruin t1_izhahsp wrote

The roofer should’ve told the guy stuff should be covered It probably never dawned on your landlord.

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pennant_fever t1_izhes0u wrote

Same happened to me with a house I owned when we replaced the roof. Things I had in the unfinished attic were mostly in boxes, but the dust was easy to remove on most items. Hopefully that’s true for you too.

I’d show your landlord, do your best to clean it all, then if any items need extra cleaning, talk about the bill for those. Of course, you’ll also want to know if you had permission to store items in the attic. I’m assuming your landlord knew about it, but if use of the attic isn’t explicitly part of your lease, you may have trouble demanding anything.

Hopefully it’s not a big deal in the end!

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1diligentmfer t1_izgxjs2 wrote

This, or from a board roof instead of plywood, lots of big cracks for debris to fall thru. But you nailed it in the first two sentences.

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JasJoeGo OP t1_izhfzcr wrote

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the advice. We’ve spoken and it’s all good. It was a big shock to see the mess but it’ll be sorted.

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[deleted] t1_izgx7nk wrote

[deleted]

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JasJoeGo OP t1_izgy7ba wrote

Have to assess more carefully. I haven’t started exploring in detail yet because I don’t want to disturb things. We have some antique chairs up there and some other things that got hit with lots of plywood and stuff. It looks bad but I don’t know for sure.

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Ok-Air7686 t1_izivag3 wrote

Is the attic storage area mentioned in your lease?

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modernhomeowner t1_izh2hq1 wrote

Did the landlord inform you of the work being done? If no, they could be liable. If they did inform you, it could be construed that you didn't take the necessary steps yourself as it is otherwise not routine to lay tarp on items in an attic during roof replacement.

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JasJoeGo OP t1_izh2t12 wrote

He told me people would be working on the roof but didn’t explain the scale of work. He’s a contractor himself and so often assumes I know more/understand what he means when he says stuff about the house.

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modernhomeowner t1_izh3jsp wrote

As someone who has had roof replacements 3 times, no one has told me of the debris that could come in. I'd think to do your best in friendly negotiations. Anything further and it could get costly to litigate and may be deemed a run of the mill peril of construction.

I would also note, I know you mention a nice relationship with the guy. Consider what you pay in rent vs whatever the market is now. I recall a post maybe 6 months ago where someone fought the landlord over something relatively small (not saying your damage is small, I don't know the extent), but it was like $1,000. So his lease wasn't renewed and found he couldn't get an apartment for like kind and quality for less than $500 more a month... He fought the landlord over $1,000 and now had to pay $6,000 more a year in rent. He got the $1,000 but I don't think it worked out in his favor.

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Positive-Material t1_izgza6q wrote

You have no recourse legally, but you may be able to bully money out of the landlord.

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