Hi everyone. I don't post very often, but I read a lot of the posts, and I have seem some great advice given. I could use some, so I am hoping that maybe you could help me out.
I live on the top floor of a 6 story apartment building in Philly. My wife and I have lived here for about 4 years, and prior to us living together, she lived in another building owned by the same management company. We have a great relationship with them. Our rent is always on time, and we have never had any problems.
The other day, I came home from work to find a note posted next to the elevator saying that they are replacing our elevator in January and we will be without an elevator for approximately 6 weeks. There are stairs, but they are fire escape stairs...very steep, very narrow, and very dark. The issue is that I am disabled.
I have an auto-immune disease called polymyositis, and I basically lost a majority of my muscle in my upper arms and upper legs. Stairs are a huge challenge for me, but 6 flights of these particular stairs for 6 weeks is impossible. I mentioned this to my landlord, and I really don't think they are taking this very seriously because I don't look disabled. I am 33 years old, and to the average person, I look completely normal. People associate "disabled" or "handicapped" with a wheelchair not realizing that there other disabilities out there. It's bad enough that I get the stink eye when I park in a handicapped spot (I have a tag), but I really thought that they had to make an accommodation.
There is an empty apartment on the 3rd floor. That would be a challenge, but it would be possible. I asked if we can stay in this apartment for the 6 weeks. She said that we could, but she also said that there is another tenant on our floor that has a medical condition and can't climb the stairs. She said "to be fair" they were going to let us each stay in the available apartment for 3 weeks.
What will this solve???? So after 3 weeks, we would need to move our bed, couch and TV back to our 6th floor apartment without an elevator??? Besides, what would be do for the other 3 weeks?
As a plan B, we are looking at other apartments in the event that we have to move. But our lease goes until July.
So my question is this...legally, do they have to accommodate me? And if they can't accommodate me, do you they have to let me out of the lease without any financial penalty?
I live on the top floor of a 6 story apartment building in Philly. My wife and I have lived here for about 4 years, and prior to us living together, she lived in another building owned by the same management company. We have a great relationship with them. Our rent is always on time, and we have never had any problems.
The other day, I came home from work to find a note posted next to the elevator saying that they are replacing our elevator in January and we will be without an elevator for approximately 6 weeks. There are stairs, but they are fire escape stairs...very steep, very narrow, and very dark. The issue is that I am disabled.
I have an auto-immune disease called polymyositis, and I basically lost a majority of my muscle in my upper arms and upper legs. Stairs are a huge challenge for me, but 6 flights of these particular stairs for 6 weeks is impossible. I mentioned this to my landlord, and I really don't think they are taking this very seriously because I don't look disabled. I am 33 years old, and to the average person, I look completely normal. People associate "disabled" or "handicapped" with a wheelchair not realizing that there other disabilities out there. It's bad enough that I get the stink eye when I park in a handicapped spot (I have a tag), but I really thought that they had to make an accommodation.
There is an empty apartment on the 3rd floor. That would be a challenge, but it would be possible. I asked if we can stay in this apartment for the 6 weeks. She said that we could, but she also said that there is another tenant on our floor that has a medical condition and can't climb the stairs. She said "to be fair" they were going to let us each stay in the available apartment for 3 weeks.
What will this solve???? So after 3 weeks, we would need to move our bed, couch and TV back to our 6th floor apartment without an elevator??? Besides, what would be do for the other 3 weeks?
As a plan B, we are looking at other apartments in the event that we have to move. But our lease goes until July.
So my question is this...legally, do they have to accommodate me? And if they can't accommodate me, do you they have to let me out of the lease without any financial penalty?