Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gmarthews]

On Monday I woke up to find a small pile of ceiling plaster on the floor, a hole in my ceiling and a termite next to it.

There are sounds of scuttling and scratching coming from above our ceiling and obviously we have a pretty serious termite infestation.

I called my school and they called my landlord who turned up and took the dead termite away (my wife killed it) and put a bit of tissue in the hole.

My landlord will not pay for an exterminator.

My school initially said they would pay for an exterminator but now say that it is our problem and that we should pay. They say it is 'living costs' in the same way that paying for the utilities is.

I have two problems here. One is that it clearly isn't our responsibility to deal with a termite infestation in our ceiling and I'm sure more than just our officetel is infested. My second problem is that I'm concerned about the structural integrity of our ceiling, it doesn't bode well that a termite has eaten all the way through in one place.

Does anyone know my legal position in this, or what I can do to sort this out?

[dirving]

I'd say that the owner of the property is responsible for the upkeep of it. Why should you fix her or his property? He/she gets the long-term benefit of your repair job on his house-uh. Hmm, that no good/not fair-uh me t'inks.

[BringTheRain]

I'm interested as well. If there's a problem with your apartment, such as termite infestation or the faucet is busted, what is the law? Landlord coughs it up or what?

[gmarthews]

I agree that I shouldn't be investing in the landlord's property!

Does anyone know where I can get legal advice from?

Would it be worth going to my office of education? It's literally 2 minutes away.

[Caffeinated]

Shouldn't this be covered in the monthly maintence fee you pay for the officetel?

[gmarthews]

[Senior]

[Dazed and Confused]

I grew up in an area where termite infestations are common. It takes years for termites to eat away at a building to the point where it is unsafe. They are annoying when they swarm and mate but otherwise go undetected.
This is your landlord's problem. You did not cause the damage, so you are not responsible. If he doesn't want to fix it, it is probably because he wants to sell the property. I've currently got an electical problem at my house and the landlord doesn't want to do anything. She keeps trying to sell but whenever anyone sees the extension cords running across the floors they change their minds.
If you are renewing you can ask to be moved to a different building. Or you could just choose to find another job.

[seoulsucker]

[jonpurdy]

It's definitely your landlord's problem. Get him to take care of it through your school. Have your school press the issue (somehow, though it seems that you've tried).

I'd also change apartments, even if he fixes it.

[dirving]

[scorpiocandy]

Your landlord is responsible for upkeep of the apartment. That's his duty and should be stated in the contract. That said, who knows what is actually in your lease.

I would just try to negotiate a new apartment, as others have said. DO NOT PAY for the termites.

Good luck

[gmarthews]

Thanks guys, I will definitely change apartments when this contract is up, but that's not until August. I don't really want to stay living in a termite infested place until then, it was OK until one ate through my ceiling.

Dirving, I used to like in Chungnamdo but now I'm right down south, why do you ask?

[Fishead soup]

I have termites crawing in and out of the palm of my hand.

[talltony4]

I think there's a difference between lease and monthly rent here. If you school leased the place (jeonsae only, no weolsae) then maintenance is the tenant's responsibility.

But you said it is an officetel? In that case the school must be paying weolsae? Or is it a one-room?