Location: California
I posted this in r/renters and just about every comment is telling me something different, so I figured I might actually get some advice here.
I live in a huge apartment complex managed by a company that has several different properties. Sometime last year, I got a notice on my door that they were going to be switching my lead pipes out with copper pipes this June. I kind of forgot about it, and figured I would hear more information when the time to replace the pipes was approaching.
Well, last Thursday I saw a notice on my door that said a contractor would be entering my apartment between 8am - 5pm the following day and they would need access to my bathroom and kitchen sink to prepare for the pipe removal and installation, and it said although I was not required to be there, it was highly encouraged.
The following day, the contractor came by my apartment around 1pm, looked around, and informed me that I would need to have the left side of my closet completely cleared and everything removed from the bottom of the sinks in the bathroom and the kitchen by 8am Monday when they begin the project. He also said that water would be off at 8am and should be back on around 4pm from 6/22 - 7/3, and although I could use my living room, I would not have access to my bedroom nor bathroom between those hours during those days.
So I cleared out my closet by Monday morning, and the contractors showed up a little before 8am. I was finishing my breakfast when they showed up, but I had to leave pretty quickly because it was way too loud to be in there with the construction happening.
I totally understand that repairs need to happen, but this is significantly impacting my life. My sole source of income right now is camming (please no judgement), and I obviously cannot do that at a cafe / library or some other place people go to get their work done. I typically log on around noon, take breaks throughout the day, and wrap up around midnight. So now not only am I unable to work for 2 weeks, but my sleeping schedule is also completely screwed up because I’m having to wake up at 6:30am when I’m used to going to sleep close to 1am.
But I think the worst part of all is not being able to be in my apartment. I know I’m technically “allowed,” but with no water, extreme noise, no access to my bedroom, and people constantly walking in and out, that’s not practical. I can’t even use the restroom between 8am and 9:30am since the restroom at the leasing office isn’t even open until then.
If anyone has any advice, I would really appreciate it. I think they should be offering me a hotel or a discount off of rent this month for this huge inconvenience. I pay around $2k and live in a one bedroom.