Hello All
Need some advice on a situation, so here goes.
Background History:
Live in a RS apartment with mom that is under her name. Been living there 20+ years, I grew up in the apartment. Have gone thru probably about 4 landlords. I would say all the landlords have been ranging from slumlords to plain old cheap on fixing stuff. My mother never really took the time or effort to bug the landlords about major repairs or painting walls as she always though she would move out soon. Of course that hasn't happen.
So years ago there was a leak in the bathroom ceiling not a big leak but didn't do much damage at the time besides brown stain. There is also plaster cracking as well, but never really bugged any of landlords to fix it. Did have handyman replace toilet and some minor repairs on the wall.
Current Status:
Major water leak happened last week, need buckets to hold water. Brown water stains everywhere. Took landlord 4 days to get someone to fix and it happened to be the old super who lived above our apt. It looked like the LL knew where it was coming from even before he step into the building(fishy) and look like it was fixed in less than 30min. He fixed it in about but left and never bother telling me it was fixed. He said that it was from the 3rd flr., but can't be sure if he even went to the 3rd flr. I will have to talk to the 3rd flr. tenant. We figured it out once the leaked stop. So after 5 days we confirmed no more leaks, but now there are major brown stains on the walls. Paint is peeling in areas that has no issues before. And it looks like it made worse previous cracks in the wall.
Is the current LL responsible in fixing the wall, even replacing it as the leak inside the wall and coming from 3rd flr. apt? Does it matter if the wall was not in the best of shape due to the previous LL did not fix it?
My fear is that the LL may use this as a ploy. He will agree to fix the wall or replace it but it would require that the bathroom tub and toilet to be removed then once remove delay delay delay finishing. What i have is apt. with no bathroom which is not good for my mom who is over 70.
Thank You