Got screwed by a landlord who didn't fix the heat for 3 weeks in January

I was renting this old place near Whyte Avenue in Edmonton last winter. The furnace went out on December 28th when it was -30 outside. I called the landlord, he said he'd send someone. Nobody came for a week. I kept calling, left messages, nothing. Finally I went to the Alberta Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service and filed a complaint. The hearing was fast, like 10 days later. The guy showed up and claimed I never told him. But I had all my texts and call logs. The adjudicator ordered him to fix it in 48 hours and gave me a $400 rent abatement. Honestly, I should have pushed harder sooner instead of freezing for so long. Has anyone else dealt with a landlord who just ignores you during a real emergency?

2 comments

2 Comments

grant7281mo ago

Man, $400 seems pretty light for THREE WEEKS without heat in a Canadian winter. Did they actually check if the place was even livable during that hearing, or was it just like "here's some cash, now go away"?

lily3601mo ago

Blame the landlord's insurance payout not the tenant's suffering.