What should I do about damage to my dorm room that I didn’t cause?
Update: I spoke with my RA, and she mentioned that similar issues have been reported throughout our building. I also submitted a maintenance request, and they suggested that these cracks are likely due to the building settling.
Thanks for all the advice so far!
I find myself in a bit of a bind. Over the winter, I started noticing cracks appearing on the walls of my dorm room, and I have no idea how they got there. Just today, I saw that one of the cracks has caused the wallpaper to begin peeling away.
I attend college in a northern state where we experienced significant snowfall this year. Initially, I thought the cracks might not be serious enough to report to residence life, but now there’s a crack stretching the entire length of one wall.
I reached out to residence life about the issue and spoke with one of my roommates (who is also an RA). I’m feeling anxious that I might get blamed for this damage.
Sorry for the long post—I’m just really unsure of what to do next!
It sounds like you’ve been dealing with a frustrating situation, but it’s good to hear you’ve already taken some proactive steps by talking to your RA and placing a work order with maintenance. It’s understandable to worry about being blamed, but remember that wear and tear can happen in any building, especially in older dorms.
Since it seems like this might be related to the building settling, you’re likely not alone in this. Here are a few more things you could consider doing:
Document Everything: Take photos of the cracks and any other damage you find. This way, you have a visual record if it’s needed later.
Follow Up on the Work Order: Keep in touch with maintenance to see when they can come to assess the situation further. This shows that you’re taking the issue seriously.
Keep Communicating with Your RA: Since your RA is aware of the situation, make sure to keep them updated if the damage worsens. They might be able to provide further guidance or support.
Talk to Your Hall Director: If you’re still worried about being blamed, consider talking directly to your hall director or another residence life staff member. Explain the situation and show them the documentation you’ve collected.
Reminder of Liability Policies: Review your housing agreement or liability policies to understand how damages are handled. Most places have measures for situations like this to avoid unfair blame on residents.
It sounds like you’re on the right track! Just remember that maintenance issues are part of living in a building like this, and it’s important to advocate for a safe living space. Good luck!