Yes, it's the start of heating season. Well, it started everywhere else except here. With that in mind, here is a copy of the e-mail that I sent the bitch managing agent:
X: Yet another evening with no heat, and none expected. Yes, I called [the thing that pretends to be our super]. He said the boiler works. I don't doubt him. After all, the boiler did come on for, oh, 15 minutes sometime after 7:00 a.m. this morning. Not enough to actually heat the building. I would say it was more like a "hint of heat." UNACCEPTABLE.
In any event, [the thing that pretends to be the super] says that the problem is the timer, and the "boiler timer people" who are responsible for repairing the timer have been called. He called them. But then he said he told you and you would call. Or something. [He] added that these "boiler timer people" who will "fix the electronics" won't or can't come here tonight. No, apparently they can only make calls sometime between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. This is New York City. You can get anything here. Even timely boiler repair service.
Yes, I am keeping a record of every day we don't have heat--and I'm not the only one. Signed, Me
P.S. Did you pay the outstanding Con Ed bill or are we going to have no light and no heat?
Ah, New York City living. And yes, I've met the new neighbors, gave them the low down and am considering (possibly with them) hiring a lawyer (once again). This time things may get resolved sooner than later. You see, there is one good thing that has come out of the [induced] financial crisis. My landlord--a man who truly defines the term douchebag--apparently was convinced that he was going to be up there with the Durst, Silversteins and other real estate moguls, so he put second mortgages on some of his buildings, including the one I live in (which is a cash cow). Apparently the banks have helped themselves to three of his buildings, and this one might be next. Since about half of us are rent controlled or rent stabilized, the bank can't take the building and just kick us all out. Oh, and they will have to provide heat, hot water, clean the building, etc. So this should give you and idea of how much I hate my landlord: in a fight between him and the banks, I want the banks to win.
Good luck!
Posted by: JDM | October 19, 2010 at 08:38 PM
Thanks, JDM. I'm withholding some rent. I have been doing that for three months now. Had enough. If we don't get regular heat in the next day or so, I'm hiring an attorney. The landlord is ready to go down, might as well give that evil motherfucker a hard shove. GMB
Posted by: gmb | October 19, 2010 at 09:08 PM
The banks win? That's significant. I hope they get their shit together soon. By they I mean your landlord.
Posted by: lisahgolden | October 19, 2010 at 09:48 PM
Lisa: I hope my landlord goes down hard. He is vile. A drug addled vicious piece of shit. If the bank gets the building, well, the building is shit, but I live on one of the loveliest streets in NYC. Someone will buy it. Presumably someone less vile than the asshole who currently does. So yeah, I'm cheering for the banks for this one. After they get ownership, my usual hatred of the banks will return, I'm sure. GMB
Posted by: gmb | October 19, 2010 at 10:26 PM
Yikes! Buy a heavy quilt!
Posted by: Dr. Monkey | October 19, 2010 at 11:58 PM
Pissed - I used to live in an apartment in SF facing North. The radiator would clang on for about 1/2 hour at 6AM and 6PM. I finally bought an electric mattress pad cover and went straight to bed when I got home from work in the winter.
Posted by: raceynora | October 20, 2010 at 05:05 PM
Lots of blankets, Dr. Monkey. And I fire up the kettle a few times in the evening to heat the place up a little. The hair dryer works too.
raceynora: Christ, that had to blow. Thing is, we have heat requirement rules and this bastard landlord is violating them. He has always ignored the rules. We sued him before and won. I'll do it again. I have almost enough money saved to buy--hell I might be able to do it now--but I'm really uneasy about the economy. And in NYC, buying means 20% down. We shall see. GMB
Posted by: gmb | October 20, 2010 at 08:04 PM
Warning: Banks do not like being in the real estate business. They will work to quickly sell the building, and they may try to weasel out of repairs, etc. Be prepared for a different kind of fight.
Posted by: libhomo | October 23, 2010 at 06:36 AM
libhomo: I'm leaning towards hiring an attorney now, before the bank takes it over. And yes, they want to sell, but they still have to follow the rules and may be willing to throw some money around and take care of things to keep people quiet (you know, when buyers come a looking). Honestly, a bank can't be worse than this vile asshole who owns it know. He really personifies scum of the earth. GMB
Posted by: gmb | October 23, 2010 at 10:43 PM