Is my landlord breaking the law?

Question

We signed a contract 3 months ago that stated all the things they were to provide and the repairs they were to do upon us moving in, none of which have been done. We are a little late on rent but it also states in the contract that they will work with us when and if we are having money issues. They gave us a day the rent had to be paid, which has yet to arrive. So are they breaking the law by not following through on their half of the contract?

Answer 1

Technically you are both breaking the contract. You have to pay rent regardless of weather or not they have made repairs. You have to go through the courts to have them declared a slum lord and your record has to be spotless when you do so.

Answer 2

You should have defined what  "working with us when and if we are having money issues" precisely means in the contract.  

When you are not being clear in the contract, who knows how a judge will interpret it.

Answer 3

Call your city hall and go on their web site first. They might give you free legal help. You need someone to look at your lease. If you have to you might need to pay for your own lawyer,but it shouldn't be more than a couple of hundred dollars and they will send him a letter putting him in his place if he's wrong.

Good luck. .

Answer 4

Work with us is vague.  

Repairs not being done is an entirely separate issue from rent not being paid.

Have you made a formal request for repairs, what repairs were to be done?  What is the nature of the repair and what is the time frame, does the contract state upon you moving in?  How is upon move in defined?

If you have not requested repairs or they have an open ended time frame they in no way have violated the contract.

However by not paying rent a on prescribed date you have.