Hi guys, Ill be quick. I’ve just moved to a new place, I have spend 3 night there and just found out that the water here gives me rash/allergy.
My skin is itchy as hell, at first I was really confused and had no idea why Im so itchy, but today I realised it started just after taking a shower.
Thinking about having to stay in the place where my skin basically burns is not an option, but at the same time, I have just paid basically 3 months of rent (1st month + 2 months deposit).
Can I get back my deposit based on the health issues created by this place?
I wonder how you’d be able to demonstrate that it’s the apartment’s water supply rather than general water hardness or something. Are you sure it’s not a different soap/shower gel, or even fabric conditioner or something on the towels?
Not really doubting you, but it sounds a bit odd and I feel like you’d have a hard time explaining that to the landlord unless there’s a known problem with the water…
I calmed down a bit today, and went to see a doctor, my body was full of small “dots” and itchy as hell.
I already informed the agency, that I started getting soin problems after moving in, and that I suspec water tank or pipes and I hope the situation can be somehow improved, but from their response seems like they dgaf and just want me to contsct landlord myself. Not gonna lie, this is what I was expecting, but still feel disappointed.
I refuse to believe that there is no protecting law which is above the contract.
I am not thinking about changing because I changed my mind, but because I am genuinely concerned about my skin, and I am 99% sure it has something to do with water in this place.
do you know if it is an older building with a concrete holding tank on the roof? We have that and I’ve wondered if it is why the water is so hard (mineralized). Hasn’t caused skin problems though.
roof water tank may have several dead pigeons or rats inside. Happened to us in ZhongXiao area once. Had no water for three days while they disinfected and cleaned the tanks… showers smelled better (never drank the water, thankfully: strictly beer and whisky).
You sure it’s not bed bugs? I got bed bugs at one of Taiwan’s famous long-stay maternity clinics after our baby was born and it showed as small red dots on my arm.
No, I have dealt with bed bugs in the past and it’s not them for sure, she skin reaction is completely different. Additionaly I slept today in long sleeve blouse so there is no physical possibility that they could get under it and bite.
Doctor says that he suspects apartment hygiene and mold, but it is not really visible. The place looks reasonably clean (one of the reasons I decided to go with it).
Realistically probably the only way to have gotten the money back (won’t work now) would have been to plead an Extremely Emotionally Gutting Emergency in the Home Country which Requires You to Leave Immediately. Yeah, it’s a lie, but two months as a deposit is also illegal AFAIK, unless things have changed. Are you sure one month wasn’t a payment to the agency or something?
But anyway. As the Magic 8 Ball used to say, “All signs point to no”, I think.
Is it? I thought two months is standard and legal. Are you sure you’re not thinking about something else, like how much landlord’s are allowed to keep if leaving early?
I discussed my situation with chat GPT, and according to my AI friend:
Landlord needs to provide habitable environment, and contract is not above Taiwanese law regarding tenants protection.
I will observe keep observing the situation. I have ordered water filter (god know if it will help) and new sets of bedsheets just to be sure and exclude any other possibilities.
My contract states that if I want to leave early I need to notify 30 days in advance + they deduct one month of my deposit.
I already notified landlord 2 days ago and very politely asked if there is a possibility to check things and hinted that maybe something with water tower but I was left on read
You’re assuming that someone will enforce the contract. It will be far more difficult for you, a random foreigner, to prevail against a Taiwanese national and property owner and voter, who has whatever connections he may have. And that’s assuming you figure out how to sue, or spend (probably) more than the two months’ deposit on a lawyer.
