A lessor of an apartment did not fix leakage defects in the apartment for many months. The lessee invested in the apartment relying on a long rental period, but finally had to leave the apartment after only one year.
The Court accepted the lessee's claim and held that the lessor must pay the lessee damages and compensate her for mental anguish caused to her. The relationship between lessee and lessor are defined according to the provisions of the lease agreement signed between the parties. In addition, the lessor has a responsibility according underto the Israeli law to make repairs to the rented property within a "reasonable time". The "reasonable time" in a residential apartment is a period of time of up to thirty days, and even less in urgent cases. Here, the lease agreement stipulated that repairs such as moisture damage (as well as locating the source of the moisture and treating it) would be carried out "as soon as possible". Despite this, the lessor dragged her feet and did not took take care of the water leak that progressed to different areas in the apartment and it was a real difficulty to live in it for an extended period ranging from five to eight months. Under these circumstances, the lessee is entitled to receive compensation for the mental anguish caused to her and for damages caused to her belongings as a result of the leak and even reimbursement for the investments she made in the apartment based on her anticipation for a long rental period.