What number can I call on my landlord for not fixing the hot water heater in Greensboro,NC?

Question

Ok so my hot water heater went out for the 5th time and I called my landlord the 1st time to come and fix at about 11:30am and they sent someone out to fix it but it was not fixed, told me to wait 30 to 40 minutes before I try to use the hot water so I waited an hour and 30 minutes, still no hot water, so I called again at 1:17pm. Told the landlord that I still have no hot water, they stated again that they would send someone out, noone has come out and it is currently 7:09pm. This is not the 1st time I have had this probably and I have a daughter. So what should I do. I mean I do need to wash, I have been without hot water since yesterday and I was told yesterday that it would be fixed today, but I realized that I did not have hot water when I got off work at 2:30 yesterday afternoon and they were called and told about it. So what should I do?

Answer 1

Call the local health dept, they will send someone out to inquire about this.

Answer 2

Most people don't know this, but in North Carolina in order for it to be a legal request for repairs to be made you have to put it in writing with the following:

Your name

The date

The problem

When you expect it to be fixed by (you have to give a reasonable amount of time from when you write the letter)

Your signature.

If that doesn't work you may want to pursue a rent abatement, which is wehn you would sue your landlord for not holding up their end of the bargain.

To learn more about that you may want to call legal aid at 336-272-0148

You could also call the Greensboro Housing Coalition, they may be able to contact the landlord and see what's going on. Their number is 691-9521, but you'd have to go into their office.

Finally, if you want to skip the above options and skip right to hardball you can call the city inspector at 373-2111, however problems with water can lead to a place getting a 48 condemmnation notice around here, so have a contingency plan.