Landlord said that "install window insulator"

Submitted by Sea_Crest t3_10xryom in jerseycity

I've been in talks with the landlord for how heat doesn't work in my bedroom (room gets very cold at night even with a high thermostat setting, other rooms reflect the high temp set in the thermostat) but works in other rooms of the house, due to, let's say, peculiar design choices by the architect of the apartment/heating vents. (huge apt, not a powerful enough heating vent to reach all rooms)

Their solution was that I should buy window insulators from home depot.

Is this an average response to expect from a landlord when you bring to them heating issues of your bedroom (gets very very cold at night, even when the thermostat is set to a high temp like 75) ?

Shouldn't they be the one to pay for this ? (due to tenant laws or something)

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Comments

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Glitch5450 t1_j7tyndx wrote

You can go buy them or go sue them

16

lucke0204 t1_j7u01fo wrote

"Under the state housing codes, from October 1 to May 1, the landlord must provide enough heat so that the temperature in the apartment is at least 68 degrees from 6 am to 11 pm. Between 11 pm and 6 am, the temperature in the apartment must be at least 65 degrees."

https://www.nj211.org/no-heat-complaints#:~:text=Under%20the%20state%20housing%20codes,be%20at%20least%2065%20degrees.

If your bedroom is under 65 degrees overnight, I would put in writing that you will withhold whatever portion of your rent it costs to purchase these window insulators. If those solve your problem, great. If not, it's still their responsibility for the HVAC to be capable of heating your apartment and they would need to upgrade it or make other insulation improvements.

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pixel_of_moral_decay t1_j7uhhzo wrote

They could simply drop off a $50 space heater OP can use and pay power for. That would more than comply.

Would cost OP more in power costs though.

The law doesn’t say heat on the landlords dime. Only heat must be capable. They can even pick something intentionally inefficient if they wanted.

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lucke0204 t1_j7v5ifq wrote

That's true! Although I'd let the landlord make that determination instead of proactively offering that solution as a tenant.

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WendysFrostyandFries t1_j7u51p3 wrote

To not do anything/pass their responsibility on to the tenet is something (many) landlords do.

If you have an indoor thermometer make sure to take pictures with time stamps of your bedroom temperature. If you are going to communicate do it through certified mail.

If buying window insulators from Home Depot is the solve, which we probably know isn’t, deduct it from your rent.

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aa043 t1_j7v5ary wrote

DIY vent after sealing the window carefully.

  1. tape all window joints carefully then create air bubble (foam sheet or plastic).

  2. open door and with $20 box fans, bring in hot air from nearby 75 degree area. (if necessary, create simple tubes to move hot air using duct tape and cardboard or cloth. DIY less than $50. Winter will soon be over!)

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Rube777 t1_j7vv5gm wrote

By law the system has to be able to produce heat at a certain temperature during winter months (can't remember exactly what temperature). But I don't think the law states anything about specific rooms... your best bet is probably to just buy a small space heater for your bedroom. Then turn down the thermostat so you aren't wasting money heating the rest of your apartment. You'll probably save money

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hghoboken t1_j7xri2q wrote

I do a lot of work in the area, what source of heat do you have?

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Sea_Crest OP t1_j7y0wp5 wrote

I don't know to be honest. The thermostat control is next to the main door, and there is a vent going from the main door to the bedrooms.

The mechanical room is just outside my apartment door.

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