Apartment crap

[jebbypal]

My letter to my landlord earlier today in response to meeting on the 8th for lease signing:
The 8th isn't good for me.  That's the day I get back from vacationand I can't be sure when I'll be done at work as a result.  Let me know when else would be a good date. Also, I told the people in the management office about the sewer gasissue once again today.  I would really like to see this issue resolved sometime this month.  Thanks.


His response:
We always do whatever we can to resolve any problems for our tenants. Regarding the gas, you know it's the issue outside of our unit. As I was told , new maintenance person will be on duty starting August 31st. I left the order to resolve this problem and hope it will be investigated and fixed. You must understand, it's not easy to do. For example, when we were in the studio we didn't feel any gas at all.
August 8th has been selected because our agent will be in the building from 6pm to 10 pm that night. If it's not convenient for you, please let us know any other day and time and we'll try to coordinate it with him and our working schedule. It's not easy for all of us to get together, because we all working during the day.If you've changed your mind and don't want to sign up new rental contract, it's okay, just please let us know.

WTF? I haven't threatened yet to not sign a contract if it's not cleared up. Also, I recall him telling me that the new maintenance contract started August 1, but I suppose it's possible I misheard him w/ his accent (this would be the one communication not in email. gaah). I get that the sewer gas isn't present all the time -- I know this. The problem is it's present most of the time and it's always after hours. It SUCKS ASS.

Maybe it's the late hour, but everything about this pisses me off given that I replied in a relatively nice tone and haven't been demanding at all. I've been putting up with this for a full month now. A full month. Part of my rent should be going to fix this crap. I almost feel like they are doing this shit to get me out. Gaah.

ETA: Got annoyed enough to go ahead and do a response to him today because frankly, I'm almost thirty and I want to be able to handle this without asking my parents how the hell to get this thing fixed:
I realize you do what you can and I appreciate it.  I must havemisheard you over the phone as I thought the maintenance change overwas to be August 1 and therefore stopped reporting it to the front desk(especially as they weren't understanding me anyway).  I also know thatthe problem is not continuous -- sometimes it is clear for hours.  Butit the odor of sewer gas is present in the bathroom strongly almostevery single night and it always returns every weekend.  Myunderstanding is that sewer gas is potentially flammable and also notnecessarily all that healthy, so it concerns me beyond the simpleinconvenience of the bad smell.  Pouring bleach down the drains helpsfor a couple of hours, but when it's present, it always returns veryquickly.  Plus, the odor of bleach isn't necessarily that much better.

I looked on the web and found these articles:
http://iccaustin.coop/maint-form/facilitiesForm.php?action=read&id=549
http://www.plbg.com/forum/read.php?1,268903
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/PHA/mountainview/mou_p1.html

Based on the gurgling/knocking that I hear when my or a neighbor's toilet is flushed, I believe it is a venting issue. 

A maintenance person did come today, but I fear they misunderstood mymessage again --- they seem to only have checked to see that the drainswere working.  I know the lack of response on this issue isn't yourfault, I'm just frustrated to have to live with this day in and dayout. 

I'll do my best to get back to the building on the 8th after 6pm.  I'llcall your cell if I find that I can't make it so that I don't holdanyone up. 

Stacey Garrett

Obviously, I need to bring my army of vorcs to my lease meeting.