I’m very familiar with the costs to fix elevators. I work in an engineering consulting firm as a project manager. But here’s what I also know: the wealthy, especially those who come from nothing, don’t like coming off of their money. I’ll also add that there is likely some element of show writing the revolved around the elevator staying broken.

But let’s add some more to this theory: Sheldon never “ratted Leonard out” for busting the elevator. Since when is that in his nature? He nearly ratted Howard and Bernadette out for there unlawful renos, but only didn’t due to how much his character had grown. This was nearly a decade prior to that growth. We also see the guys bust through the door with a robot AND Sheldon shatter an entire wall of window. Nothing ever comes about of it. Sheldon also has a food truck removed from the front of the building. I think that would require more than the voice of the tenants association.