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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    2

    Default Gas on Gas Heating in Massachusetts

    Massachusetts

    I have a three family home that I live in the first floor unit. My second floor tenant called to notify me that the heating part of there gas on gas stove was not working as the pilot would not light. They have a radiator in every room of the house, including the kitchen where the gas on gas stove is located. I had the gas on gas stove removed from my apartment and replaced with an electric stove. It is not needed to sufficiently heat the apartment because there are ample radiators. I had the stove looked at and it is going to be a good deal of money to fix. The stove works fine when used to cook it is just the heat does not, am I obligated to get the heating element fixed. I know MA law says I need to provide sufficient heat, is a radiator in every room sufficient? I know it is because I do not use the gas on gas to heat my house and the third floor tenant also does not use it. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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

    Default Heating with a Stove

    You should provide a working stove.

    If the tenant is heating the apartment with the stove, that is not at all safe. If the radiators you have provided are insufficient to heat the apartment, you need to fix the heating. If there is a fire in the apartment because the tenant is heating with the stove (or if the tenant's child is injured by the stove), you knew that they were heating with the stove, and the heating in the apartment was otherwise insufficient, you could potentially face liability.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    2

    Default

    The stove is an old gas on gas stove that is also used as heating. The radiators are sufficient as that is all I use to heat my apartment which is identical to the unit in question. So it is legal for the stove to be used for heating, but I view it as a secondary source. The second floor unit wants it fixed because they only use roughly half the house and utilize the stove to heat that half of the house they use. It is an older stove and will be more expensive for me to fix than buying a new stove without a heating element. The stove works fine, it is just the heating source, but I know the radiators are sufficient. So am I legally obligated to fix it if the radiators are sufficient?

  4. #4

    Default

    Research your state's statutes. Usually the landlord is required to provide enough heat to maintain a certain temperature during the day and a slightly different one at night. This requirement is usually in effect from Oct 1(?) to Apr 1(?) depending on the state.

    If you are unsure, call in a heating contractor to evaluate the situation.

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