Can I break my lease on an apartment if the landlord has been doing very loud renovations for 3 months?

Question

He has lied over and over about the lenth of construction and noise level. He has also put in dumpster in my parking spot (which is in the lease but i'm not paying extra)

Answer 1

I live in an apartment complex where there is A LOT of water damage and mold. Go into any of the 60 apartments there and they just smell stale and stagnent. Not to mention tenants have problems like outlets sparking, mold eating away the shower tiles, as well as bugs because the apartments are so damp. I recently went hiking with some friends and got my sneakers wet in the process. I put my blowdryer on the hottest, highest setting and got them almost all the way dry. I went to put them on the next day, and they were hard as rocks and covered in white and BLUE mold!

I wish the realty would just decide to renovate the place. It scares the h**l out of me to think that I'm surrounded by this c**p and breathing it in. All they do is just repatch holes from the damage and paint over it.

Anyway, I called the Health Department for the city I live in, and asked them if I should file a complaint. They said that doing so could mean that I would face eviction by putting the realty in jeopardy by having a health inspector come out and observe the premises. Plus, they said they didn't consider mold a huge concern because every place to a certain degree has mold. It would only be a huge concern to them if I was walking around my apartment in 6 inches of water.That ended there for me because I couldn't face being evicted, and it was obvious that I wasn't going to get any help anyway.

Many other tenants here have done the same thing to try to break their lease, by claiming that their living conditions were dangerous and hazardous to their health. They have gotten the same response from the health department, and like me, cannot face eviction. And like me, they left it at that. Apparently, our health being jeopardized isn't a good enough excuse to break a lease. Good thing my fiance and I are moving to the apartment of our dreams in a month!

My advice is for you to start talking to people to see what you can do. Maybe call the town hall or something like that, and speak to someone who oversees building and construction in the town you live in. Ask them what can be done. I don't know how much luck you'll have as the construction and renovation isn't really doing anything to your health or the overall function of your life.

Keep on it. Talk to everyone you can and see what can be done and what your options are, but also keep it very discreet. Don't go forward with anything unless you are prepared for the possible consequences. Good luck!  

Answer 2

You could take him to a rent tribunal if he doesn't agree to a reduction in your rent. As for the parking space get pics and tape the noise. Give him a chance first then stick the boot in.

Answer 3

No, legally you cannot break your lease for the reasons you mention.

The landlord is allowed to renovate his property. As long as the work is being done within the permissible hours - usually 7 am into the  evening, there is not much that you can do. It's all legal and considered an inconvenience at most.

If a dumpster is required - it must be placed on the property, it cannot go on the street - it is a temporary inconvenience.  

Answer 4

u could report him

Answer 5

No - You cannot break a lease for things being worked on.

There are very few legal ways to break a lease- it is a legally binding contract.

Read up on the landlord tenant law for your state to protect yourself.

Answer 6

break it! The only thing that will happen is you won't get your deposit back.

Answer 7

You should get legal advice on this.  At the very least you are due a parking spot since it's mentioned in your lease.  You should write to the landlord and tell him enough is enough, and if you can get other tenants to sign the letter then that would be good.  After that, get legal advice and see what you can do under local noise ordinances.  You have a right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises, but the landlord also has a right to make improvements.  It's a fine line and if you just break your lease your credit record could be toast.