Building code violation enough to break a lease?

It is only enough if the place is condemned. A violation means a fine, not that is it unlivable.

Besides, only 1 window in the room has to open. A boarded up one is simply not counted as window at that point. People board up windows all of the time, it is NOT illegal.

In court the judge will not decide if a place is habitual or not. They go by the paperwork. If this building commissioner you talked to really thought the place was "unfit" he would have red tagged the place and you would be out already.

Your pictures will not help all that much. What you need to prove is first that the landlord had a legal obligation to make the repairs you are concerned about. Secondly that you informed the landlord, in writing, and gave a reasonable time frame for repairs to be made. Most states do not specify what is "reasonable" but 30 days is the norm.

No, because if you go to court, you will surely be asked how you were able to document all of this. You would have only been able to do so while living there, obviously. So the next question, naturally, is why, if these things were an issue, did you not bring them to the attention of Code Enforcement and the landlord, so that the violations could be remedied. A reasonable person could conclude that you didn't because you were only trying to build a case for breaking your lease after the fact. It won't fly.

By acting on these things NOW instead of later, you may:

1. Have your lease terminated for you if Code Enforcement or other authorities deem the place to be unlivable, or

2. Get the place fixed up so that it is livable until your lease expires.

Document everything you can but read your lease first. Then read the landlord tenant act for your state of IN.

You may have to document the unsafe conditions through the code enforcement department of the city where you live.

However, breaking a lease can bring about future difficulties in finding another rental or your credit report may reflect this as well. You may also get some bill collectors hounding you so be prepared to suffer the consequences of whatever action you decide to take.

If the window is a code violation and is a breach of the lease then there are certain procedures you must follow. In most states if there is breach of the lease, other than non payment of rent, the offending party must be notified and given a reasonable time to cure (fix) the breach. In other words you must have notified your landlord in writing and then if he doesn't take care of the problem, you have to go to court. By just vacating you may be liable for rent for the term of your lease. Google landlord tenant laws in your state and learn your rights.

Then you will be asked this question in court: how long did you decide to live there with the boarded window and choose NOT to move? Your move must be DUE to the condition. You can't think you get to move out for one reason and then use a different reason as to why your lease in not valid.

No, that will not work. A window CAN be boarded up in a bedroom, as long as it is not the only window in the bedroom. Codes require a window for emergency egress, and one window is sufficient for that purpose. Perhaps you misunderstood the building commissioner. That being said, you are required to send a written complaint to your landlord about the situation. All he needs to do is remove the plywood. Simple as that.

Read your lease, sometimes leases have clauses saying that maintainence issues aren't enough to break the lease, but willful violation of the law could be justification to breaking it perhaps. I would look up the laws, or maybe speak to some kind of free legal council if you have that available to review your lease.

Only if you fail to give "a notice of intent to vacate" with the terms as prescribed in the law of your state found at the dept. of consumer affairs - you might be eligible for moving cost to be paid for by your landlord. See how to on the site I mentioned above.

Ask the landlord if he really wants you to complain to whoever's in charge of enforcing building codes.