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My super sucks.

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brooklynleather
above average
Joined: Sep '06
Posts: 988

I used to find the fact that he sat in the basement (aka man cave) with all his bros watching a flat screen t.v. and smoking weed all day endearing.

Now, not so much.

He ignores my phone calls, doesn't actually come when he says he will. On the rare occasion he does show up, I get no warning so I could be in my pajamas or asleep when he rings the bell.

We're dealing with a baby roach infestation and other minor things (bathroom door won't shut, door knobs won't stay on doors, etc.) but he just says he'll deal with it and he doesn't.

We have a management company and a tenant's association. I feel bad but should I report him? The man can NOT get his shit together!

# Posted 1 yr ago
brooklynleather
above average
Joined: Sep '06
Posts: 988

I should mention my most recent complaints have been going on for months without response.

# Posted 1 yr ago
brooklynpotter
ceramme ceramma danna
Joined: May '06
Posts: 4,107

why wouldn't you report him?

what would you tell me, if i could hear you speaking?--t.r.

# Posted 1 yr ago
bohuma
above average
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 466

You are paying rent/coop maintenance/condo common charges, which includes having reasonable access to the super to address maintenance issues that are the responsibility of the building management. You have every right to complain, and I think you will be doing yourself and your neighbors a great service if you do. How to make your complaint effective:
1. Put it in writing, type it, sign your name, and send it by certified mail to the management company.
2. Be specific about times and dates when you made a request for service and how long it took for action to be taken.
3. If you have observed the super watching TV and smoking with his friends during work hours, again be specific about the time, date and place. Do not refer to "weed" or cannabis/marijuana, say that you observed him smoking strange smelling, hand rolled cigarettes. Let the management company draw their own conclusions.
4. Be specific and reasonable about how you would like the management company to address this. E.g. You would like the super to phone you between certain hours to arrange access to the apartment to address the roach issue, you would like notice if he has to cancel to respond to a higher level issue in another apartment.

Make sure your letter reads like it is written by a reasonable person (get a friend to proof read it) and make reasonable requests. Do not make accusations of illegal activity, but report what you have observed.

# Posted 1 yr ago
brooklynleather
above average
Joined: Sep '06
Posts: 988

I don't care that he smokes weed and I don't want to get him in trouble for that i Just want him to do his job, you know?

Thanks for the tips!

# Posted 1 yr ago
brooklynpotter
ceramme ceramma danna
Joined: May '06
Posts: 4,107

are you an owner or renter?

what would you tell me, if i could hear you speaking?--t.r.

# Posted 1 yr ago
brooklynleather
above average
Joined: Sep '06
Posts: 988

I am a renter. And I like him as a person so I feel really bad but he is a total flake.

The tenant's association actually had us fill out a survey about his (bad) behavior to give to management though I didn't do it at the time as I was a newish tenant (a few years ago already).

# Posted 1 yr ago
armchair_warrior
retsop cixelsyd
Joined: Dec '05
Posts: 7,946

He isn't doing his job, report his ass to the landlord, someone else could use the job. It isn't a hangout job, it's a job for him to fix things.

Fight white guilt and injustice by smoking tax free guilt free Reservation Smokes or go gamble in a Native Casino.
I like to stick it to The Man, The Man happens to be Liberal in NYC(power Structure).

# Posted 1 yr ago
brooklynleather
above average
Joined: Sep '06
Posts: 988

Good call. I am going to take the advice and write a letter to management this week.

# Posted 1 yr ago
PragmaticGuy
above average
Joined: Apr '11
Posts: 399

Why are people afraid to do their own work? I rent too, and if there's something wrong I fix it or pay for it to be fixed. I live there, the landlord doesn't. Get some bug spray and a screwdriver and fix what needs to be done. End of story.

# Posted 1 yr ago
ntfool
above average
Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 483

Sure, why have a super at all?

I agree to a point with what your saying Pragmatic, but if an apartment in a multi-unit building has bug issues, it is unlikely to just be a problem for that one unit. Therefore, a super/bldg owner needs to get involved and get an exterminator involved for multiple parts of the building. And if that's the case, why should the OP pay for any of it?

Also, sometimes simple things like hardware or minor plumbing issues are simply out of the purvey of a renter's abilities (granted, not that they can't learn) to repair. Keeping up with proper maintenance of your living space is one thing, but snaking a toilet or a shower drain is altogether different, and should be handled by the building, not the renter.

If you're happy, you're not paying attention.

spurn Productions, Inc.

# Posted 1 yr ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,076

The OP especially has a valid grudge if she is receiving less services than other persons in her building.

It is no secret that some buildings have supers that "suck more than others, or don't suck and all" and this is hopefully reflected in the rent changed.

If she is in a run down building, wherein no one receives services, she may be wise to assume that this is the norm, and then seek a building thatcharges a premium (in part) because it is able to offer an attentive, non-weed smoking, non-loafing super.

Until she is able to do this, she should by all means attempt everything that has been suggested to mitigate the situation:

-call his boss
-organize people who hate him
-fix what she can

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 1 yr ago
scarlett
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 2,866

Ugh that sucks for you. Roaches are almost as bad as bed bugs especially in a shared building.

My new super was soooo helpful when I pointed out a million things that should have been completed before I moved in and actually fixed most of them. He then offered to come back the next day and fix the last thing (scrape a nipple in the ceiling from a prior leak and repaint) and also install my fancy showerhead. I was so excited thinking he was totally earning a holiday tip. Yeah. That was 7 weeks ago and he hasn't been back. I changed out the showerhead but don't want to touch the nipple afraid I'll end up with a hole in the ceiling.

I included a letter with my rent to the management company, but was very friendly after all, this guy could make my life pretty miserable if he chooses to and I don't want to mess with that.

So, yes, write a letter, but I would caution your tone. I am probably the first person to act out in anger without considering the consequences, so I would say be firm, make requests and hope for the best. If management doesn't give a response, consider carefully your actions unless you're prepared to move.

# Posted 1 yr ago
mr. met
rocking it
Joined: Dec '07
Posts: 1,407

hahaha i used to live in your building

that guy is really funny, but yea, also unreliable

# Posted 1 yr ago

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