(Editor’s note: We welcome Edlira Kuka and Laura O’Connell to the blog! Edlira and Laura are Solid Ground’s tenant counselors. They have a wealth of information for renters about the state’s Landlord Tenant Act and will be sharing practical tips with us on a regular basis.)

When your unit needs repairs, effective communication with your landlord is crucial in getting the repair process started. It’s okay to call, email, or speak to your landlord in person to give them their first heads up that something needs to be done, BUT remember to ALWAYS send a request IN WRITING. Under the Landlord Tenant Act, the landlord must start making repairs as soon as possible after receiving a written notice and no later than the following timelines:

• 24 hours to begin to restore heat, hot or cold water, electricity, or to fix a condition imminently hazardous to life.
• 72 hours to begin to fix a refrigerator, range and oven, or major plumbing fixture supplied by the landlord.
• 10 days to begin making repairs in all other cases.

If you are interested, here are the details in the law.

Even if you have left several phone messages or you are certain your landlord or apartment manager is aware of your plumbing issue or your broken garbage disposal, a request in writing is still necessary because the time periods in the law do not begin to run until the landlord receives notice IN WRITING. Sample repair letters can be found here.

If you need help or have questions about the repair process, effective ways to communicate with your landlord, or your rights as a tenant under the Landlord Tenant Act, feel free to consult our main Tenant Services webpage. You can always call the Tenant Hotline to speak to a Tenant Counselor about your specific situation: 206.694.6767.

Legal disclaimer: The information contained in this post or linked to the Solid Ground Tenant Services website is for informational purposes only. Solid Ground makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to its website. Solid Ground cannot act as your attorney. Solid Ground makes no representations, expressed or implied, that the information contained in or linked to its website can or will be used or interpreted in any particular way by any governmental agency or court. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel.