Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bbud656]

I haven't signed a contract yet but the one I am looking at says that I am responsible for the maintenance at my apartment. I already know that the place is older and has had issues in the past. Is it wrong to ask for my employer to cover these costs or at least pay for them if they exceed a certain amount?

[mtmelton]

i pay maintence as well at my apartment. It's 20 bucks a month. I believe it covers them mopping the floors and stuff. If your appliances are owned by the school then it won't cover that but if not it should be covered.

[fugitive chicken]

yup, I pay 20 a month too. It's for the maintenence of the whole building, i.e. paying the security guard, clean floors and elevators, fixing broken stuff around the building.

Also, if appliances in your apartment break, that would probably be up to you. I think it goes under the rules as you're using it, so you broke it. Generally repair is fairly cheap. However, if something serious goes wrong, then ask the school. It all depends on how cheap they want to be.

[NYC_Gal]

I had my hot water heater replaced for free at my last apartment, in the same building as my new one. I did have to pay for a plumber when a guest flushed a cotton swab and a baby wipe down the toilet, which clogged it up. My friend (also in the building) had to pay for his washer/dryer to be repaired. Certain things will be covered. Others are up to you. My plumbing issue cost 50 bucks.

[ttompatz]

[cincynate]

You have to pretty much pay for any and all maintainance on your apartment. Its cheap though.. I think if something major goes wrong your school should pick it up. Especially if something old goes bad.

[bbud656]

There isn't a maintenance fee. It is a house that we have the top level of. It is big, but older. There have been problems with mold, water leaks in the wall and plumbing. I get that I have to pay to get the toilet unclogged or whatever, but if the the wall leaks and gets mold everywhere, is that something I should be covered for in my contract? I don't want to owe 2 mil won on something that isn't my fault.

[toadkillerdog]

Refuse to accept sub-standard housing. Problem solved.

[mmstyle]

[ontheway]

[Louis VI]

I got a bloody 176,000 won management fee bill to pay for the last three months. For what? Spraying bleach in the elevator and picking up garbage seems to be the extent of it. Every apartment paying it adds up to more than a full-time salary for someone. High-rise robbery it is.

[Troglodyte]

The building maintenance fee is a utility fee. You will have to pay that. But repairs to your apartment that you didn't cause (e.g. water heater not working, excessive mold) are things the owner should take care of. Unfortunately many schools try to get the teacher to pay for them. Make sure that it's specifically in your contract that you don't pay to repair things in the apartment (unless it was caused by negligence on your part). Also, have something in there that says that mold and pest infestations are to be taken care of at the owner's expense (or the schools).

[marlow]

In the monthly utility fee there is also a fee called long-term maintenance, maybe 10,000 per month. You are entitled to get that back when you move out as it relates to apartment ownership. I never knew, but I enjoyed the surprise 600,000 won at the end of five years.

[bbud656]

Didn't take the job. Too much shady stuff wasn't adding up.