Help with a rented house!!!

Question

Me and my partner have took out a lease on a rented house and the land lady has failed to maintain the property. The house is unsuitable to live in, it is damp due to past leaks, the wallpaper is hanging off, and we have recently discovered that it is invested with fleas, she told us to pay for the house to be fumigated ourselves, even though the house was swamped with them before we moved in. We have recently refused to pay rent as she will not do anything about it. Simple tasks have not been completed and should of been before we moved in, such as light bulbs, toilet seat and smoke alarm. We have had enough and would simply like our bond back and go. It is a 6 month tenancy agreement and have only 3 months left but we will not pay rent, why should we? Any advice on what we can do?

Answer 1

Its not her responsibility to get you all new light bulbs and stuff, that's your job, that's why you look very good before you sign a lease, you need to get you some flea spray and stick it out for three months then you will be clear.

Answer 2

You said that the apartment was infected with fleas before you moved in, then why did you move in??  The wallpaper was probably falling off of the wall when you looked at it for rent too.  So why did you rent the house if you saw that is was not in that good of condition?  Did you take any pictures of the condition when you moved in, or had a list of defects damages that you wrote, and had the landlady acknowledge and sign?  If not, you don't have proof that you didn't cause the damages.  I don't know how many times I, (and everyone else) has to say this, but you can not with hold the rent in lieu of repairs.  You have to do it legally. If tenants just decided not to pay rent because they say that the landlord doesn't repair anything, then tenants would probably break things purposefully so they wouldn't have to pay the rent.  Do you have a pet in the unit?  If so, how can you prove that your pet didn't bring in the fleas?  

Answer 3

You CAN NOT just stop paying rent without going through the proper legal procedures.  

Answer 4

Don't just stop paying your rent! You will end up getting evicted. Write a letter to your landlord describing the problems and requesting they be fixed by her within a certain time-frame (like 30 days). Say that if the problems are not resolved by then, you will have the work done and deduct the cost from the rent. Send it certified mail and keep a copy. If she takes you to court to get an eviction or a judgement against you for the amount you deducted from the rent, at least you can prove your attempt to gain her cooperation.

Another option would be to contact the county health department and explain the problems to them. They may initiate a health and safety inspection be conducted. Then she could be forced to bring the property up to code.

Hope this helps - good luck.

Answer 5

You can't just stop paying rent & justify it in your head. You are responsible for it & your land lord knows this also, If you want to get out of the place, you have to have a good reference from them.

Pay up & get out when your lease is up-- 3 more months!