I lived in my beloved apartment for over 15 years. However, when I had a leaking toilet for over 8 months and a non-working dead refrigerator for over 2 months I knew I must move because my landlord refused to fix things.

I contacted the City of Burien's James Bibby and a landlord/tenant lawyer to get some help and all I got was the "run around."

The apartment I'm living in now on 156th Street isn't any better. I had heavy debris behind the stove, refrigerator, washing machine and dryer-a fire hazard. The first day I moved in I mentioned to the landlord I had no hot water (May 2007). In August I asked to break my lease because of no hot water and he said NO. On October 18 I had the City of Burien-James Bibby and the Fire Marshall-in my apartment. I was verbal abused for being an older female whistle blower against a young male landlord. They outraged, belittled criticized and humiliated me.

As of today I still have no hot water.

If our landlord refused to fix things in a timely manner-where can we go to get some help? All of the landlord/tenant phone numbers are worthless. If the City of Burien, landlord/tenant lawyers, Fire Marshall are for lazy landlords, what other sources do we have to get some help or support?

Carol Gregor

Burien