Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Posts
    1

    Default Problems With Damaged Flooring and Bad Odors in a Rental Unit

    My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Arizona.

    Hello, we have just moved into a duplex unit in the past week and are dumbfounded by the lack of help from the management company. There has been many scenarios in which we have documented with pictures and email communication and the initial walk in as a problem. One which our main concern is this, the floors in the kitchen, bathroom and hallway are old vinyl flooring. Some of it is chipped and lifted in other areas. The previous tenants in the home had large dogs which urinated in the bathroom and up by the sliding glass door for the patio. Due to the vinyl flooring lifting in different areas, the urine seeped underneath the flooring. We have emailed and requested to see if they can arrange a clean up of this or possible replacement and refuse to do nothing. I have yet to send any certified letters to them about it but from what has transpired Id like to know what I can do.

    Every time the shower is on or heat is in the restroom the smell is immense and nauseous. We have used vinegar, bleach and hydrogen peroxide to soak the floor with in hopes of getting rid of it and nothing has happened. I've forwarded the land lord tenant act to advise them that we were to be provided a home that's a habitable and sanitized home within all the common areas and still refuse to do it. Its not owned by a person but the actual realty group we rent it through, per the public tax records. This I feel is a sanitization issue and falls under category to resolve with the landlord tenant act. We have also taken pictures using black light to show the areas of the urine to be shown as well to document. We are not trying to be pushy or demanding but the absolute denial of handling an issue like this is a slap in the face. They even advertised on Zillo and Hot Pads website that walls will be painted and new carpet AND FLOORING will be put in.

    Even though it may not be on the lease, its been noted so early within us moving. No one picked up on it due to the smell of paint and primer masked it, and no hot air was going through the restroom either. I just want the smell gone and them to take care of it, whether they can possibly treat or clean it or replace the flooring. We told them its violating our rental rights and the tenant landlord agreement, emailed them the proper sections that they need to fulfill, advised them its making us feel ill breathing it in every time we clean ourselves and that its not sanitary. If it ws something I could simply mop out I wouldn't care but its under the vinyl and they don't care for it as an issue. What can I do or am I right within getting an attorney?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Problems With Damaged Flooring and Bad Odors in a Rental Unit

    Review the information on repairs here, and the relevant statute summaries here (you can also look up the full statutes, here). See A.R.S. Sec. 9-1303 ("For the purposes of this chapter, a condition that materially affects the health and safety of the occupants of a residential rental dwelling unit includes any of the following conditions:... 9. Hazardous or unsanitary premises, including those premises on which an accumulation of weeds, vegetation, refuse, dead organic matter, debris, garbage, offal, rat harborages, stagnant water, combustible materials and similar materials or conditions constitute fire, health or safety hazards."), which is implicated by A.R.S. Sec. 33-1324, governing the landlord's duty to provide fit premises.

    Your focus seems to be on the odor, not the question of whether the flooring has deteriorated to the point that it, of itself, is a health or safety issue. There's nothing I can point you to that is going to state, "pet urine beneath the floor covering, creating an odor, is a health issue that must be addressed by the landlord," but that seems to be the angle you would need to pursue to get relief. You can see what your local housing authorities say and are willing to do about the issue; if you have an active inspector, perhaps the inspector will be able to get your landlord to take corrective action.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Roommates: Roommate's Unauthorized Pet Damaged the Rental Unit
    By jgutella in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-30-2014, 09:14 PM
  2. Contractors and Subcontractors: Flooring Contractor Damaged Floor During Installation
    By gbatharmon in forum Construction, Repair and Renovation
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-04-2014, 03:16 AM
  3. Repair and Maintenance: My Rental Unit is Not Up to Code
    By Maidyn in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-17-2013, 11:17 AM
  4. Condo & Co-Op Repair and Maintenance: Leak Upstairs Damaged My Unit, Owner is Giving Me the Runaround
    By JoeyD781 in forum Real Estate Ownership and Title
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 12-17-2012, 04:38 PM
  5. Repair and Maintenance: Rats in the Rental Unit, How Much is Too Much
    By Zulu01 in forum Landlord-Tenant Law
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 10-08-2012, 11:59 AM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources