How much time for a landlord to fix something?

Question

i rented a mobile home 6 mos ago( it was in bad shape but the landlord assured me she would have her handy man start fixing stuff),the landlord ask for a list of things i found that needed repair. i gave her a list ,but nothing has been done.the front door in particular is warped and has big gaps all the way around it,im running the A/C and afraid it will make electric bill be high,i ask "what about the door" everytime i pay rent, and she always says she is looking for one.should i get a rent discount,i wouldnt have rented the place ,but she assured me that what needed fixed would be fixed.its on the lease to report to her what needs fixed so it can be taken care of.

Answer 1

YOu have a lousy landlord.  All the promises of future repairs were your first warning.  And the fact that it is up for sale (in lousy shape) tells me that she has no money to fix anything.  $500 of repairs would get her $5,000 in profit.

I want you to do something. GO to her and tell her you will buy it.  She can sign the deed to you today.  For no money.  You continue making payments; but you pay the bank instead of paying her.  If she wants cash, tell her you will give her $250 today and another $2,000 in 2 years.  If she signs the deed, she is gone and it's yours.  Are you brave. /

Answer 2

Items that directly affect your safety or health can be forced to be fixed immediately (maybe).

Problems that affect your costs, like your door, may go on being reported and not fixed until there are ice crystals forming over h**l.

Problems that just might have been caused by you, if you did not have move in pictures signed by the landlord when you move in, are likely to be fixed at your cost just after you move out... of course the next tenant may be waiting for years to get them fixed, even though you were charged for fixing them.

When a landlord persists in renting a property that is in bad shape, there may be a reason, like they are expecting foreclosure, or the building will be demolished soon. In general they are not ever planning to bring it up to standard because they are not planning to keep that building in its present form.

In that case, if you push, about all that will happen is the building gets demolished earlier, or bills like tax, utilities etc go unpaid in anticipation of foreclosure.

Landlords may never fix things, particularly if they plan to demolish or expect foreclosure. There is nothing in it for them.  

Answer 3

The mistake is that you didn't have the terms put into the lease itself.  If you had concerns about the door, for example, you should have had written into the lease that it was to be repaired by X date, or you had the option to break the lease with no obligation on your part.  The fact that none of the repair items is in the form of a written agreement, doesn't obligate her to do anything.

Answer 4

The landlord does not legally have to alter the trailer from its condition when you moved in unless it is written in the lease.

As long as the door locks it is legal.

You can not get a "discount" on the place you rented if you do not like it.   You should have never rented it if it does not meet your standard of living.

"needs to be fixed" is "what is legally incorrect", not "want do you want remodeled?".

Answer 5

I'm a landlord.

First off, are you paying the rent IN FULL and ON TIME?   If so, you have a legitimate beef.  Otherwise, you're no better.  If you were paying late and only part of the payments I wouldn't get around to it either.

It sounds to me like you should probably just move.  You didn't say anything about a length of time on the lease, so you may be able to move by now.  You have to understand.....it's not "your" trailer, it's hers.  And if she doesn't get around to it, and you're otherwise a good renter, she should lose you to a better landlord.