I just moved into a new apartment two weeks ago. There were a number of problems, chief among them that the bathroom light doesn’t work, the dining room light doesn’t work, and the living room light and fan don’t work. I put in a work-order for the repairs, and they said they’d get to it. I live in a student housing development, so they also had about two thousand people moving in the same weekend, so they said it’d take a little while.
Well, after two weeks of sitting around in the dark, I am wondering what options I have. The apartment was not rented “as is”, it was advertised as being in working order. If my landlord doensn’t fix the problems in a timely manner, am I entitled to a refund of any of my rent? What qualifies as a “timely manner”? I’m getting upset that I paid for accommodations that they have not as yet provided. Any input would be appreciated, especially if you all have any good ideas about how to get them to speed up the process.
Don’t know how it would stand up in court, but when I had the same problem I sent the lanlord a registered letter listing the problems (which he knew about) and asking for a reply within a week stating when the repairs would be done otherwise I would hire professional contracters and deduct the cost of the repairs from my rent. A few days later, the repairs where begun by the landlord.
First off, I have no clue what the laws in your state are like, but I am a part time property manager. Were you in Ohio, I would suggest investigating a rent escrow program.
As it works here you send a letter the landlord detailing what needs to be fixed (keep a copy) and if they don’t comply in thirty days go to the local clerk of courts. Describe to them the problem and furnish them with a list of repairs needed. They will either hassle the land lord or receive from you the rent you would have paid for the next month, if they take your money they will inform the lanlord that they are holding the cash till the landlord complys. By law you have paid your rent and are not violating your lease, but the land lord can’t touch it till they get things in shape.
Try searching “landlord tenant law” and the name of your state in google, lots of help out there to be had.
One word of caution, the land lord may have options open to him other than repairing the unit.
Worst I’ve heard was where a tenent called the landlord daily complaining about every little thing.
Finally the landlord did a cursory inspection and declared the unit uninhabitable. He told the tenent that he would need to find other accomadations until the “extensive” repairs were completed, anywhere from 30 to 90 days.
I doubt your land lord would make such a sleezy move as I am sure your repairs are completely reasonable. But I’d take a hard look at your lease first and research the landlord tenent laws in your locality as others have suggested.
This (hopefully)doesn’t apply to the OP, but what EvilGhandi referred to is called, at least in Ohio, a Constructive eviction. Namely the work needed in order to bring the unit up to code would empair the tenants “use and enjoyment” of the property to such a degree that the lease must be voided.
Now I would encourage anyone faced with this sort of eviction to challenge it in court even if you have not intention of staying in that unit. Here’s why: 1. Too many landlords use it as, what they hope is an easy way to get rid of a troublesome tenant (believe me, there are much better ways). 2. Going to court makes them “prove” the unit is below code and commits them to fixing their crappy property for the next tenant. One of these days you might be the “next” tenant.
Go to court with a list of all the faults in that unit. If you have no desire to stay in that unit, inform the judge of that fact. But make sure all the code violations are entered into public record. The next time that landlord tries to renew the occupancy license for that unit they will need to prove those violations are fixed.
Several of the properties I (co-own and)manage are in neighborhoods that are on the brink of falling from middle-middle class to lower-middle class. I can’t control the economy but I can control my properties. If everyone, or at least enough people in the neighborhood made the effort to maintain their buildings then we wouldn’t need to worry about our area. That is why I hate deadbeat landlords. I hate deadbeat tenants too, but that’s another thread.
visit your bookstore, library or amazon.com or nolo.com (nolo press) get a book, Tenant’s Handbook & read. Has all the info you could possibly want to know. Getting legal info from the net is a bit like getting medical info, be careful.