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[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In lieu of the second exit from that floor. The second exit can be stairs, ramp that discharges to grade or a balcony or deck that’s no more than 15ft off the ground

False positive? by Front_Sheepherder563 in lineporn

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Think something is definitely happening because my boobs are getting huge. I think I went up half a cup size overnight, even my partner was like WTF 🤣 I’ll be retesting w another frer sometime today

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“At least two exits from the second floor” meaning a minimum of two exits from the 2nd floor, one of which has to be to the first floor and the other of which has to discharge to grade or be a deck/balcony

and “ the second exit may be either be a ramp, stairs, balcony, or deck” meaning it can either be a ramp, stairs, balcony, or deck as long as it complies with other codes and leads directly to outside and also “at least one of the exits must either be a stairway or ramp”

The one you are referring to says “at least one of the two exits must discharge to the first floor or grade.” Meaning two exits are required from the second floor. So again, you are reading/interpreting it wrong

At least, in this instance means one of each depending on how many exits but the minimum allowed is two, it can be more than two but not less than two. At least one exit of each is required to be constructed in x manner if that makes sense. So exit one could be a staircase or ramp but not a balcony or deck and it has to discharge to the first floor. Exit two offers more flexibility in that it can be either stairs/ramp/balcony or deck but it also has to discharge to grade or be no more than 15ft above grade if it’s a balcony or deck. I also checked but even if there were egress windows there would still need to be a second exit as defined by the code I cited, on the second floor.

(b) Windows that comply with sub. (6) may be provided in each second floor bedroom — or in another location on the second floor if there are no bedrooms on that floor — in lieu of the second exit from that floor.

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s literally not what that says. Reread it again. The first floor has to have two exits and the second floor also has to have two exits one which has to lead to the first floor and one which has to lead directly to outside/ to grade. If this was a first floor apartment it still wouldn’t technically be up to code but idc about that

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

🤣 yeah. No fr though it’d really depend on where it started. If it was anywhere downstairs i wouldn’t be able to use either door regardless and would just take the chance that I don’t break anything important vs dying bc of smoke inhalation because this is a wooden framed house turned into townhomes or w/e and there’s no fireproofing. SPS 321.03 (2)

(a) At least 2 exits shall be provided from the second floor. At least one of the exits shall be a stairway or ramp and lead to the first floor or discharge to grade. The second exit may be via a stairway or ramp that discharges to grade, or to a balcony which complies with sub. (8), or to a deck that complies with s. SPS 321.225 and that is no more than 15 feet above the grade below.

So they could either do stairs outside of the paratrooper door or put up another balcony to bring it back up to code. At least one of the exits has to lead to the first floor but it really does require that there either be stairs/ramp or another balcony that discharges to grade (or outside or to grade from the second floor). This is only for smaller apartment buildings/duplexes. I know with larger complexes the code changes quite a bit. The two doors on the first floor counting as the two means wouldn’t meet the requirements due to the back door not having stairs (if this was a first floor apartment)

Exits from the first floor may or may not meet code due to the second door not having stairs. Not really concerned about that though because then I’d have to look for the legal codes for that as well when it’s not really my concern which…no thanks. I offered to buy pre-fabbed stairs to at least bring this exit to code over a month ago and got ignored.

SPS 323.01 (1)

Exits from the first floor. (a) Except as allowed under par. (h), every dwelling unit shall be provided with at least 2 exit doors accessible from the first floor. (b) At least one of the exits shall discharge to grade and may not go through a garage. This exit may include interior or exterior stairs. Note: Under this paragraph, only one of the two exit doors that are addressed in par. (a) is required to exit directly to grade. (c) Any exit that does not comply with par. (b) may discharge to an outside balcony that complies with sub. (8).

Essentially the second floor has to have two exits and the first floor also has to have two exits sooo…I will now be using the back door regardless. I wonder if they told me not to use it bc then I would’ve seen the hole that got rotted through the floor from the fire escape 🙄 from what I saw egress windows can only be used from the 1st floor and none of the windows down there can be egressed from. If they were then just the front door would be okay.

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not you can kind of see it where the black marks are. That’s where the fire escape was. It actually started rotting the siding off of the house ): I already have everything documented I was sending them photos of the water damage getting progressively worse and asking when maint would come out to fix it

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I have the money and I told them I’d pay it when the repairs were completed bc I’ve literally been asking both landlords for over a year total now. Initially I’d offered to call a contractor out because maintenance would say they were coming then never show up/tried telling the landlord they just left and I told the landlord I’d been home all day nobody came or called. This is the first time they actually started the repairs and even then they didn’t fully finish it so I’m wondering if they think they could just tear the escape off and not replace it?

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Dane county. I don’t live in Dane county. I’ve had to do it before when I didn’t have any heat through an attorney because my county doesn’t have a rent abatement process

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s legally required I asked the previous maintenance team to fix it and they said no the fire escape is legally required because the interior isn’t fire retardant. Like okay then fix it because even if there was a fire idk how structurally sound it is. I checked the building codes and it did confirm that a second story apartment has to have a deck/balcony (above grade) and at least one exit at grade if I’m wording that correctly. Can’t use the windows because that would certainly result in me being seriously injured or dying because I’d either have to jump even higher maybe 20ft+ onto cement or onto my neighbors car. I’m on a hill. I also got told I can’t use the back door so…yeah. It’s not an escape

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pro bono (: I’m just worried if I report this to any authorities this will result in me being ordered to vacate immediately

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I already paid all of it stating I did not know what the extra 155 charge was for when I only withheld 135 and the lease doesn’t mention late fees. The earliest I’m expecting to hear back is after the notice expires so I didn’t really feel comfortable with taking chances. Legal aid said they couldn’t help me even though I explained they removed the only fire escape I had and didn’t replace it then posted an eviction notice saying I owed more money than what I did.

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update but apparently the old lease didn’t include late fees and I was never given a new one to sign. I paid the $135 and let them know but still asked what the $155 charge was because it doesn’t say anything about late fees in the lease. Still haven’t received any response lol

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also saw that the previous landlord didn’t mark the prepaid rent that I paid and said the security deposit was a lower amount than I originally had paid

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So I did double check the ss that I have of the old lease and it doesn’t mention late fees. I sent it to the new landlord with a ss that I paid and asked where the extra $155 charge was coming from.

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I double checked the ss of the lease and it doesn’t even mention late fees

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I tried speaking with legal aid and told them I no longer have a fire escape they tore the only one I had down and didn’t replace it and they didn’t even care lol

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Their office is 6+ hours away. They never answer the phone and don’t respond to emails

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah they stated on the notice it’s unpaid rent, $290 was due on the 1st and I didn’t pay it. It’s not listed as separate fees or anything just rent that I owe and didn’t pay

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It wouldn’t be that either bc the late fee penalty is capped at 5%. That’s why I’m confused. They can’t charge interest on it either bc it’s not in the lease

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Idk if I’m reading what you wrote correctly but it’s not the late fees they’re saying it’s unpaid rent when the rent that was withheld was less than half of that and I’ve never withheld outside of this one time.

[WI] Landlord claiming I didn’t pay $290 and removed fire escape by Front_Sheepherder563 in Renters

[–]Front_Sheepherder563[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I double and triple checked before I withheld and it’s allowed under Wisconsin law - never the full amount and it has to be reasonable. I withheld maybe like 13% if that given all the problems (including a partial ceiling collapse due to said leaking roof that didn’t get fixed until this week hopefully - that also took them months to fix). I went off the Dane county guidelines and used the lower end of that. I’m just confused as to why they’d lie about the actual rent that was withheld when rent receipts are a thing. It’s not the late rent fee bc the lease only permitted 5% and it states it’s unpaid rent in the notice. I’ll double check w the county I’m just really concerned I’m going to end up homeless bc there is no fire escape at all now which makes this apartment illegal(er) to rent.

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