What do i do about my landlord who doesnt fix anything?

Question

I MOVED INTO MY APARTMENT( A LARGE 2 FAMILY HOME) IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR, I LOVED THIS PLACE  BEAUTIFUL 3 LARGE BEDROOMS, LARGE KITCHEN, AND LARGE DINING ROOM, BASEMENT AND GARAGE WASHER AND DRYER SO I FELT LIKE , WOW WHAT A BLESSING, SO WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE HANDLE ON MY STOVE WAS HANGING AND MY DISHWASHER WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST DISHWASHERS MADE IN AMERICA, I DIDNT SWEAT IT AT FIRST WHEN MY LANDLORD DIDNT FIX THEM RIGHT AWAY, BUT WHEN I SAW A LITTLE MOUSE THATS WHEN I GOT WORRIED, I STARTED SEEING DROPPINGS ON MY KITCHEN COUNTER, I LAID DOWN SOME TRAPS THINKING IT WAS JUST ONE(CAUSE I SPOTTED IT RUNNING) BUT WHEN I CAUGHT 2 IN ONE TRAP I STARTED PUTTING MORE DOWN , I CAUGHT 6 IN 2 WEEKS TIME, I CALLED MY LANDLORD REPEATEDLY ABOUT IT, HE FINALLY GOT A EXTERMINATOR TO COME IN, BUT THE EXTERMINATOR DID NOT DO ANYTHING HE TOLD ME THE LANDLORD SENT HIM TO MY APARTMENT TO JUST GET AN ESTIMATE SO I CALLED THE LAND LORD BACK AND HE SAID THE MAN WOULD BE BACK IN  2 WEEKS..... ITS BEEN 4 MONTHS SINCE THAT TIME, A LITTLE AFTER THANKSGIVING MY OVEN STOPPED WORKING SO I EXPLAINED TO HIM WITH 5 CHILDREN IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO NOT HAVE A WORKING STOVE  IN THE HOUSE, IT IS NOW JANUARY 15 I STILL DONT HAVE A STOVE, I PAY MY RENT EVERY MONTH ON TIME (THATS THE ONLY TIME HE COMES TO  PICK UP THE RENT CHECK) SHOULD I WITHHOLD MY RENT UNTIL THESE ISSUSES ARE TAKEN CARE OF, HE IS NOT A SLUM LORD AND I FEEL BAD, BUT THESE ISSUES REALLY NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, OH THE LAST THING WAS SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2008 HE HAS BEEN ASKING ME FOR CASH INSTEAD OF CHECK FOR THE RENT IN NOV HE GAVE ME A RECEIPT, IN DEC HE CAME TO GET THE RENT BUT SAID HE FORGOT HIS RECEIPT BOOK AT HOME, SO IN JANUARY I TOLD HIM HE ABSOLUTELY HAD TO GIVE THE RENT RECEIPTS FOR DEC AND JAN, SO THE NIGHT HE CAME TO MY HOME I WAS NOT HOME SO I LEFT IT WITH MY NEIGHBOR UPSTAIRS (THERE TRUSTWORTHY) WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO LEAVE THE RECEIPT IN MY MAILBOX, WHEN I GOT HOME I SAW ONE SHEET OF PAPER HANDWRITTEN SAYING THAT 2 MONTHS RENT WAS RECEIVED ON THAT DATE FOR JAN AND DEC, I CALLED HIM AND SAID READING THAT  WOULD MAKE A JUDGE THINK I PAID FOR DEC RENT IN JAN, HE SAID HE BRING IT WEDNESDAY TODAY IS THURSDAY AND I STILL DONT HAVE THEM OH AND WHEN  I CALLED HIM ABOUT MY STOVE HE SAID HE JUST GOT LAID OFF AND I WOULDNT BE GETTING IT THIS WEEK AS PREVIOUSLY AGREED

Raven · Accepted Answer

You need to check what the laws are in your area.  http://www.rentlaw.com is a pretty good source.

Some areas allow you to withhold part or all of your rent if the violations are considered "major", as in, making your apartment uninhabitable or threatening your health and safety.  Some areas will allow you to have the repairs made at your expense and then deduct them from your rent (with proper documentation).  You need to check the laws in your area.

What I recommend as a first step, while you're researching the laws, send the landlord a certified letter requesting everything be fixed.  Spell out every issue you're having and ask for a response by a specific date, in writing.  Make sure to send it certified, and ONLY use certified mail to complain.  You'll need to be able to prove that you complained, what you said, and when.
Second step, contact your local building inspector and/or health department.  Ask that your apartment be inspected because of the issues, specifically the mouse problem.  Get copies of all their reports.
Do not pay the rent in cash unless he hands you a receipt on the spot.  

If he wants to be a real jerk, he can try to start eviction proceedings.  Again, check the laws in your area for specifics, but usually you can go to court and stop the process, and have a hearing about the conditions of the rental.  

It's not easy, but good luck.

Anonymous · Answer

First of all: It is ILLEGAL to withhold rent for things needing to be fixed.

The receipt thing is not that big of deal. At least it shows that Dec & Jan are paid. That is the important part. I would not worry about it.

Send him a certified letter stating the things needing repaired and the rodent problem.  He then has 30 days to get things done.  You can then call an licensed repair man for the appliances and an exterminator.  You can take ONLY the repair costs off of the rent.  Make sure to give the landlord a copy of the receipts.

Him getting laid off is immaterial. That is part of what your rent money is for.

FoxForceFiveVega · Answer

Oh boy do I feel your pain!  My landlord is a slumlord and I aint afraid to say it.  I'm a single mom with 2 kids.  Trust me, it could be worse!  My hotwater heater leaked for a year and the floor rotted and mold was growing all over my house...Took this a$$hole a YEAR to come and fix it.  He never does anything here.  I have a few families of squirrels that live in my attic and have to hear them tearing away at stuff all the time!  My refrigerator tore up and doesn't cool anything..all my food goes bad after a couple of days of being in there.  He told me I had to fix it.  Even though the fridge was here when I moved in.  My stove electrocutes me. He won't put central heating and air in.  The wiring is very unsafe.  But hey, it's all I can afford.  So hope I made you feel better.  Like I said, it could be worse.

Anonymous · Answer

Move Out! I know that you may have a lease but.....What I would do is ask him to fix it or you are taking him to court to forfeit the lease! More than likely he will get on the ball. A lease is not only a contract on your behalf but his as well. If you have a copy of the lease and it states that the landlord must do the repairs than he isn't keeping up with his end of the deal.

paganmom · Answer

As a renter you have rights.  You can put the money in an escrow account until things are fixed.  I would call a lawyer in your state and they can tell you who to speak to.  You can try calling someone at city hall also, someone will know who you need to contact to set up a legal escrow account.
Don't feel bad, you deserve a stove and a clean apartment!

Anonymous · Answer

Move out

Mitchzilla · Answer

Just constantly ask him to fix the damn things that r broken.  Remember, consistency is the key

Anonymous · Answer

Call a lawyer and let the courts handle it...

Listen to good music · Answer

Be passive aggressive and nail his door shut

Anonymous · Answer

talk to a civil attorney. you can cry slumlord.

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What do i do about my landlord who doesnt fix anything?

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