Showing posts with label Montana Housing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Montana Housing. Show all posts

Friday, June 5, 2020

Have You Ever Wondered What Normal Wear and Tear Means?


Normal vs. Excessive Damage
Normal Wear & Tear:
Landlord's Responsibility Excessive Tenant Damage:
Resident's Responsibility
A few small nail holes, chips, smudges, dents, scrapes, or cracks in the walls Gaping holes in walls from abuse, accidents, or neglect. Unapproved paint colors or unprofessional paint jobs. Dozens of nail holes which need patching and repainting.
Faded paint Water damage on wall from hanging plants or constant rubbing of furniture
Slightly torn or faded wallpaper Unapproved wall paper, drawings, or crayon markings on walls
Carpet faded or worn thin from walking Holes, stains, or burns in carpet. Food stains, urine stains, and leaky fish tanks are never "normal".
Dirty or faded lamp or window shades Torn, stained, or missing lamp and window shades
Scuffed varnish on wood floors from regular use Chipped or gouged wood floors, or excessive scraps from pet nails
Dark patches on hardwood floors that have lost their finish over many years Water stains on wood floors and windowsills caused by windows being left open during rainstorms
Doors sticking from humidity Doors broken, or ripped off hinges
Warped cabinet doors that won’t close Sticky cabinets and interiors
Cracked window pane from faulty foundation or building settling Broken windows from action of the tenant or guests
Shower mold due to lack of proper ventilation Shower mold due to lack of regular cleanings
Loose grouting and bathroom tiles Missing or cracked bathroom tiles
Worn or scratched enamel in old bathtubs, sinks, or toilets Chipped and broken enamel in bathtubs and sinks
Rusty shower rod or worn varnish on plumbing fixtures Missing or bent shower rod or plumbing fixtures
Partially clogged sinks or drains caused by aging pipes Clogged sinks or drains due to any stoppage (hair, diapers, food, etc.), or improper use
Moderately dirty mini-blinds or curtains Missing or broken mini-blinds or curtain
Bathroom mirror beginning to “de-silver” (black spots) Mirrors caked with lipstick and makeup
Broken clothes dryer because the thermostat has given out Dryer that won’t turn at all because it’s been overloaded, or the lint trap was never cleaned out.
Worn gaskets on refrigerator doors Broken refrigerator shelf or dented front panels
Smelly garbage disposal Damaged disposal due to metal, glass, or stones being placed inside
Replacement of fluorescent lamps - or any light bulb designed to last for years of continuous use


HUD has a list (Appendix 5D) of various items, and their life expectancy:

Item Life Expectancy
Hot Water Heaters 10 years
Plush Carpeting 5 years
Air Conditioning Units 10 years
Ranges 20 years
Refrigerators 10 years
Interior Painting - Enamel 5 years
Interior Painting – Flat 3 years
Tiles/Linoleum 5 years
Window shades, screens, blinds 3 years (https://www.landlordology.com/normal-wear-and-tear/)




Saturday, January 11, 2020

Paying for the Privalage to Cause More Damage to My Herniated Disc, Only in Montana

823 N. Davis St, Helena, MT. January 10, 2020, 11:40 am. Door reported on Dec. 17, 2019

How long is a reasonable time to repair a door that is pulling away from the door cassing where it is attached by the hinges? Is it reasonable to expect a person with a chronic pain disorder, a herniated disk to lift the door in and out of the cassing just to enter and exit the property? Is this acceptable by HUD? Is this how our tax payer dollars are being spent? Allowing Landlords to ignor repairs that can be physically damaging to the tenant is not acceptable.

Where do you report these types of Landlords in Montana? No where, because there is no money in forcing the Landlord to repair his building (s). The attitude is if you don't like it move.

How can you move when the State of Montana Housing Division misscalculated your rent. You over paid your portion while Montana allowed you to. Upon discovering the error, Montana Housing will repay the portion you overpaid to the Landlord. Never mind the $750 you covered for Montana Housing's lack of ability in calculating rent should have been returned to the Tenant so that she could use it to move out of said apartment. No, that would be logical and reasonable. Montana Housing is not.