For the past seven weeks, the elevator in a 10-storey apartment building at Pendrell Street and Bute has worked for only two days, according to resident Ervin Jay.

That means 62-year-old 10th floor resident Jay and his 63-year-old roommate Marc Fieberg, who has had a quadruple bypass, suffers dizzy spells and problems with depth perception, have been forced to use the stairs.

“Coming up and down stairs can be a real treat for [Fieberg],” Jay said. “And then he does have to get out quite often for doctors appointments and he has to go weekly for blood tests because of some of the medication he takes.”

The elevator broke down July 5, according to Jay. When the building’s plumbing failed and the building had no running water for the better part of three days near the end of July, Jay says tenants had to lug water for drinking and washing up the stairs.

A month ago, signs outside the elevator said it was going to be replaced, Jay said. But those signs disappeared two weeks ago. As long as there’s a way out of the building, the fire department can’t take action. The city’s standards of maintenance bylaw states: “every elevator in any building used for residential purposes shall be maintained in an operational condition at all times.”

Tom Hammel, acting director of licenses and inspections with the city, said the city received a complaint about the building in late July. A city inspector visited the building Aug. 9 and confirmed with Otis Elevator Company that repairs were underway.

Jay, who’s lived in the building three and a half years and knows his suite’s previous tenants, says the elevator’s been a problem for 15 years. “The story’s always the same, next week, next month, and then eventually it gets scotch taped and band-aided back together but never for very long before it breaks down again,” he said.

Jay says his neighbours have contacted the Residential Tenancy Branch.

Martha Lewis, executive director of the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre, said going to the branch is the only answer.

“With an aging stock of rental buildings, this is a big problem, and the older the buildings get and their elevators, the harder it might be to get repairs done,” she said.

If the landlord’s doing his best to get the repairs done, the tenants could apply for a rent reduction. If the landlord’s dragging his heels, tenants could apply for additional compensation, she said.

Lewis said tenants should request an order to repair the elevator from the Residential Tenancy Branch and request a rent reduction, and those who can’t function under the circumstances should request compensation to live elsewhere.

According to B.C. Assessment, the building at 1225 Pendrell St. was sold to Maxim Enterprises Ltd., which is listed at a Dunbar address, for $1 in 1990. A cash sale happened in 1980, at $1.44 million. B.C. Assessment valued the land and building at $7.2 million for 2010.

The caretaker did not return the Courier’s calls by press time.

Jay said he and his roommate were informed by the owners they’ll receive a $200 reduction in rent starting next month. They pay $1,400 a month for a 1,200-square-foot two bedroom.

crossi@vancourier.com