An 85 year old woman has been living in the same apartment for 40 years and her hands shake like crazy.......?

She lives in a building under the rent stabilized law. She requested a dishwasher last year because she was having trouble standing for long periods of time as well as hold the dishes. First the landlord said he would have one installed and there would be a rent increase, which was totally expected. Then he said he would not put one in for her with no given reason. This woman told her doctor the story some 8 months later, he was furious and wrote a doctors note insisting that a dishwasher get installed in fear there could be a terrible accident. She is not capable of standing and her hands shake too much for her to do the dishes. She sent the management company the doctors note with another plea for a dishwasher. She is being ignored. I am more than willing to help her take the management company to court I'm just so confused as to where to begin. This story breaks my heart. I think they want her to just die or move out so they can go in, renovate and charge a fortune for her apartment. How would they feel if this was one of their loved ones? Can someone please direct me to the right site to file a legal complaint? It's been going on for almost a year now.

John M

You didn't say what country you live in, nor what state if in the US.

One option would be to see about having the rent money put into an escrow account held by a bank or such, to be released upon satisfactory of an installed dishwasher. This would force the landlord to make necessary changes to abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act (if she's an American citizen).

Consult an attorney for proper handling of such funds and proper legal advice.

Brain Babe

You need to contact an agency on aging in your area...and trust me on this...a reporter or two. I am a reporter and a staunch advocate for the elderly, and I would have this story on TV and radio so fast that this landlord would be hauling that dishwasher on HIS BACK and paying her to let him install it!

There is a special place in hell for people who abuse--or refuse to help-- the elderly. No doubt, someone hopes that this lady moves on so he/she can make money on a higher rent with a new tenant.

As far as the legal channels, they vary from state to state, even city to city--you need to find out what agency controls rentals in your community.

Where I live there is a rental enforcement office, where folks can complain about no heat, no water, rats, etc. and anything related to non-repair by landlords. The same agency also does an annual inspection of each rental unit, so that they can ensure reasonable safety of all rental property in the city.

If none of these get you anywhere, call Social Services--they look out for the elderly, and they will know exactly whom to call.

Bless you for looking out for this woman. Your good deeds will be returned to you when you least expect them, and at a time when you most need them. Life has a way of working like that.

May peace be with you.

It Girl

If she is having that much trouble with physical ailments, why doesn't she or one of her family members hire a traveling nurse to come help her? Why isn't her family offering to wash her dishes or clean her apartment?

If she doesn't have anyone to do those things for her, she needs to move out of the apartment and into a facility where she can get the care she needs.

It's not the landlord's responsibility.

Gypsy

I'm not sure where to direct you, but I just wanted to say that I am not surprised. THIS is despicable, and predictably greedy. Our elderly are treated like $hit in this country. Unless, of course they happen to be rich. Please let us know what you find out.

A57Moon ( gee ok, I got it)

Fair Housing Board?

J. Jinx

As the hat said, It is not the landlords responsibility to be this womans keeper. She has the option to move or get a professional caretaker to come in and help her. The peson who said they are a reporter and would have the press on this in a heartbeat is a stupid @$$Hole.

You know you hate me

I don't have an answer, but I did want to tell you thank you for looking out for the elderly. Good luck. I wish I had an answer to your question.

Hertha

It would be better to use paper/plastic plates. How does she expect to load and unload a dishwasher?

Pascha

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to buy a dishwasher than sue the landlord to get him to buy it? Does the lease say that it is the landlord's responsibility? Or that there is a prohibition against her buying an appliance for her own use?

And will her shaking hands make it as difficult for her to use the dishwasher as it is to wash the dishes? Perhaps you should contact your local services for the elderly to see if they would provide her with some household help so that she could more comfortably stay in her home.

The Hat

Time for the home, sorry to say. If a woman is unable to take care of herself, she can either pay for the home services or move. I don't mean to sound harsh, but it is not the responsibility of a landlord to be a caretaker.

I understand your concern, but she is 85. Sometimes, people get too old to be able to remain self-sufficiant and may even be a danger to herself (as you admitted) if she is not given assitance.

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