Dave's Rent Check #17 - Broken Elevator - The Answer is on your Telephone Number Pad
Of all the problemss that I have had as a tenant and heard of from other tenants broken elevators are probably theNUMBER ONE PROBLEM.
Once the OUT OF ORDER sign goes up it can take weeks for it to go down. Your pleas to the building manager, property manager or even the owner seem to go nowhere.
Dave's Rent Check #17
THERE IS AN ANSWER. Several years ago I called London Fire Services Fire Prevention and they told me to call the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). This is the government body which licenses all types of machinery including elevators.
Their number is 1-877-682-8772 (Toll-Free).
Try to skip the recorded messages and get a human on the line as quick as possible. You will need two things to get yourelevator fixed: The address of your building and the elevator number in your building found on the license inside every elevator in the province. It is in small print but is easy to find. Some elevators have a separate metal plate mounted on the wall with this number on it. Take a look next time you are on the elevator.
One more thing. If your elevator is "OUT OF SERVICE" and the doors to it are open tell your building manager. It is a safety hazard. Tell TSSA as well when you call them.
TSSA Licenses elevators. While they cannot force a repair immediately, they can make a call to your landlord and that usually does the trick. It has never failed in my building. The elevators have usually been repaired within hours.
Check one more thing about the elevator out of service. Is there a fireman's helmet symbol inside the elevator or outside the elevator on the main floor by the numbers. Inside the elevator the symbol is usually located next to the floor numbers.
If you see one, this elevator is designated as the Fire Services Elevator and you can also call your local Fire Department for help in getting the elevator fixed. Check for these symbols next time you are in the elevators. Firefighters depend on this elevator if they are on a call in your building. You will be helping yourself as well as the local Fire Services as they need these elevators in an emergency
It's your right in your lease to elevators that work. If you can't get results with your landlord CALL TSSA. I have let them know that my local fire department suggested that I call them on one occasion.
Being a tenant is hard enough without having to walk 7 or 8 stories with four bags ofgroceries.Even harder if you are elderly or disabled. In most cases there are no excuses for long waits for repairs to elevators. You just have to cut through the red tape.
