Major holes between floor and wall in new apartment. Is this even legal?
#1
05-31-14, 04:58 PM
Major holes between floor and wall in new apartment. Is this even legal?
Hi everyone,
Recently moved into a new apartment in Boston from out of state. As you probably know, the infrastructure here isn't too up to date, but this is ridiculous.
I'm on the 3rd floor of an older building, albeit remodeled, and there's some major issues I think are even breaking housing code.
Mainly, I have some huge holes between hardwood floor and the wall. Also, the hardwood floor itself as tons of cracks and gaps where I can see tons of dirt/sand and other debris, I'm guessing this is from the foundation?
Ways to fix this and your opinions would be greatly appreciated as the landlord doesn't seem willing to help.
Recently moved into a new apartment in Boston from out of state. As you probably know, the infrastructure here isn't too up to date, but this is ridiculous.
I'm on the 3rd floor of an older building, albeit remodeled, and there's some major issues I think are even breaking housing code.
Mainly, I have some huge holes between hardwood floor and the wall. Also, the hardwood floor itself as tons of cracks and gaps where I can see tons of dirt/sand and other debris, I'm guessing this is from the foundation?
Ways to fix this and your opinions would be greatly appreciated as the landlord doesn't seem willing to help.
#2
06-01-14, 03:37 AM
Welcome to the forums!
There is supposed to be baseboard to hide the gap at the bottom of the wall. The gaps in the flooring could have been filled prior to being refinished. While these are cosmetic issues, I don't know that they are against any code. Have you discussed these issues with the landlord?
There is supposed to be baseboard to hide the gap at the bottom of the wall. The gaps in the flooring could have been filled prior to being refinished. While these are cosmetic issues, I don't know that they are against any code. Have you discussed these issues with the landlord?
#3
06-01-14, 04:04 AM
The electrical wire hanging in front of the heater is certainly not code compliant.
The baseboards that were originally against the wall seem to have been removed and never replaced.
The holes in the walls at the floor areas do break the continuity of any fire and smoke protection if they are on unit separation walls.
The floor is an original floor and although some people value the characteristics that you describe as gaps.....others would not appreciate them. They can be dealt with but I doubt any patch work will look like the original material.
Did you see these flaws before you moved in? I would perhaps put a letter with pictures sent to the landlord via certified mail. Ask him if any of these issues represent safety concerns and if so, tell him how much you would appreciate them being dealt with.
If you don't get any response within a written time frame ask someone at the building inspectors office if apartments are supposed to be inspected on a regular basis for code issues. Don't tell them yet where you live, just ask for information.Go back to the landlord and ask if he has had the inspection required prior to renting an apartment and if not then you should call the inspector's office.
You want to get the safety issues fixed and I doubt the strictly "cosmetic" issues will arouse the eye of the inspector if he does have to come to the apartment.
The baseboards that were originally against the wall seem to have been removed and never replaced.
The holes in the walls at the floor areas do break the continuity of any fire and smoke protection if they are on unit separation walls.
The floor is an original floor and although some people value the characteristics that you describe as gaps.....others would not appreciate them. They can be dealt with but I doubt any patch work will look like the original material.
Did you see these flaws before you moved in? I would perhaps put a letter with pictures sent to the landlord via certified mail. Ask him if any of these issues represent safety concerns and if so, tell him how much you would appreciate them being dealt with.
If you don't get any response within a written time frame ask someone at the building inspectors office if apartments are supposed to be inspected on a regular basis for code issues. Don't tell them yet where you live, just ask for information.Go back to the landlord and ask if he has had the inspection required prior to renting an apartment and if not then you should call the inspector's office.
You want to get the safety issues fixed and I doubt the strictly "cosmetic" issues will arouse the eye of the inspector if he does have to come to the apartment.
