poor ventilation in apartment

[LABTECH7]

I live in an apartment complex and the people living next to me smoke inside their apartment. This is not the issue, however, as they are allowed to do so. The problem I am having is with those in the leasing office and the maintenance manager. My neighbor's living room is on the other side of my bedroom wall. Their cigarette smoke comes through my closet and my entire bedroom smells of smoke. I wake up during the night because of the smell and my clothes often smell of smoke. I have reported this to the office and to the maintenance manager numerous times. They told me that they were going to ask my neighbors to smoke outside, however, it is legal for them to smoke inside their apartment so they have no real reason to stop. I have told the office that they need to fix the ventilation within the apartment. They proceeded to tell me that they would put in a vent and air out the room, yet they have done nothing. I tell them to fix the problem on a weekly basis (sometimes 2 or 3 times a week) and they have not done anything. This has been going on since I moved in which was 9 months ago! They don't return my calls when I leave messages, and when I do get them on the phone or talk to them in person, they tell me that they will do something, but they never do. I told them that I don't pay what I pay (it is a pricey apartment) to not live comfortably in my apartment, but they don't say anything about it. I signed a year lease when I moved in and so I only have three months left, but I feel that they should fix the problem for my remaining time here or compensate me for the problem that they are ignoring. I am often tired at work because I have a hard time sleeping at night due to the smell. I don't know what else to do. Please give me some advise! Thank you so much!

 

[presutin]

Send the leasing office a letter listing all the issues you have put on this posting. Make sure you do it via certified mail. Check your state landlord/tenant laws and see what is the time frame a landlord has to address any complaints from a tenant. Put on the letter. If no response from them, then request that they move you to a different unit since this issue is affecting your well being. Good Luck!

 

[LABTECH7]

Unable to find laws online for Iowa

Thank you for the response! I will work on getting a letter written and sent to them. I looked online for the laws in my state (I am in Iowa) and I have not been able to locate what the time frame is from when a tenant requests repaires to when the landlord needs to do the work. Any ideas on where I might be able to find this information? Thanks again!