Elevator problems left the residents, many of whom are seniors to take the stairs or stay in their apartments. (CBC)

A resident of a Leduc, Alta., apartment building has won more than three years of reduced rent for elevator inconveniences.

One of the elevators at the nine-storey Summit Place apartment hadn't worked for three years.

The other broke down before Christmas and was out of commission for more than a month.

That left the residents, many of whom are seniors, to take the stairs or stay in their apartments.

While the apartment's owner offered a rent reduction for residents in April, that wasn't good enough for resident Norm Everatt. He launched a small claims suit against the owner in March.

On Monday, Everatt was awarded a rent reduction for 37 months.

"The main thing was in my mind was that we're there in court…why are we there?" Everatt said. "So you have things that come up. Why aren't they fixed?"

Everatt said he has been getting calls from other tenants who are pressing the owner for a similar rent break.