Ask Me Help Desk - Do I have a lawsuit?

Im currently renting a house that has a shed. I've stored several items in this shed that I'm not using. It rained and my items are now ruined. I told my landlord and she sent a roofer for an estimate and she claims the price of a roof is $500.00. So I asked if a new shed could be put in because my stuff is now ruined. The shed was featured with the 3 bedroom home at a cost of $750.00 a month. She told me a new shed would cost about $1500.00 and an expression as if to say,"That's not going to happen." It has now rained so much that a hole is in the top of the roof and it smells like mildew when you open the doors. I went inside to see how bad my items really were and a bucket of water rolled out when I moved a bag that happened to tip it over. I pay my rent every month and feel like my landlord could care less about this situation that could be fixed even short term by placing something over the roof to stop it from being damaged even more. Please Help

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmjames0411

Im currently renting a house that has a shed. I've stored several items in this shed that I'm not using. It rained and my items are now ruined. I told my landlord and she sent a roofer for an estimate and she claims the price of a roof is $500.00. So i asked if a new shed could be put in because my stuff is now ruined. The shed was featured with the 3 bedroom home at a cost of $750.00 a month. She told me a new shed would cost about $1500.00 and an expression as if to say,"That's not going to happen." It has now rained so much that a hole is in the top of the roof and it smells like mildew when you open the doors. I went inside to see how bad my items really were and a bucket of water rolled out when i moved a bag that happened to tip it over. I pay my rent every month and feel like my landlord could care less about this situation that could be fixed even short term by placing something over the roof to stop it from being damaged even more. Please Help

Sure you can sue them.. (might or might not win).and they can jack up your rent a huge amount as soon as your lease expires... or next month if you are month to month.

Outdoor sheds are usually considered a nice extra and provide very rudimentary shelter from the elements... they aren't heated... get VERY humid and hot in the summer, and iceboxes in winter... and mice easily get into them and what's in them, as do spiders and other creepy crawly things. You might want to read the exact wording of that lease, just because it was there when you moved in... doesn't mean they have to maintain it to the same standards you should expect for the house... because you might find yourself looking for another house.

First mistake was storing items that were susceptible to moisture or vermin in a shed that should be in a climate controlled structure. It the roof leaked or not is a secondary issue.

You also could have put a tarp over it to protect your items in the short term rather than let them get wet until they were able to do something..

Ok, after you first noticed it was leaking, you did not leave you things in there, If you knew it leaked and did not remove your things, it will hurt the case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmjames0411

... So i asked if a new shed could be put in because my stuff is now ruined. ...

If your stuff is ruined, why do you still need a shed?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmjames0411

... The shed was featured with the 3 bedroom home at a cost of $750.00 a month. ...

Ah, but was it mentioned in the lease?

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Originally Posted by tmjames0411

... I ... feel like my landlord could care less about this situation ...

I think you mean to say that the LL couldn't care less. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmjames0411

... this situation ... could be fixed even short term by placing something over the roof to stop it from being damaged even more. Please Help

So why don't you do that? Except that if, as you say, your stuff is "ruined", how can it be ruined "even more"?

Or, if the stuff is only damaged and not completely ruined, it would be a good idea to move it somewhere else. That's what the law calls "mitigation of damages".

You have several problems with a lawsuit. First, was the landlord aware that the roof leaked? Did you inspect the inside of the shed for signs of leakage before storing your stuff? Second, how was the shed "featured" with the rental? Third, if the landlord got an estimate of fixing the roof, why didn't she go ahead with the repair. Why do you think asking about a new shed was reasonable? Finally, why are your things still in the shed? Did you take out renter's insurance? Did you ask the landlord to file a claim with her insurance over the damages?