What do i do when there are hazards that need fixed in my apartment but the landlord won't do anything?

Question

I have no smoke detectors in my apartment,my bathroom and kitchen sink leak which has caused mold to grow,there is a broken window that has been broken since before i moved in and there is an electrical outlet next to the leak that has stopped working. I fear for my familys life especially my 9 month old son who has been exposed to mold before and got deathly ill.I have spoken to the land lord about these issues but he won't fix anything.Now he is evicting me due to i haven't paid the rent because of all the problems. I have no money to move and no where to go, can someone please help me and tell me what i can do?

Answer 1

Get ready to move.

You needed to follow your state's landlord tenant laws and demand repairs in writing and then call the local housing inspector. You could have terminated your lease and moved out. Now it is too late.

Your landlord sounds like a slumlord but it sounds like you did not do much to enforce your rights.

You do not have the right to not pay rent unless you have taken very specific steps or a court orders you not to.

You have no money to move? You did not pay the rent, so you should have some money.

Answer 2

I had a very similar situation when I moved into my first rent house after I got married. You need to send a letter to the landlord explaining the situation and asking him to fix it. If he/she does not, then contact your local health department and ask them who you need to contact in the state to report some inadequate living conditions in your rental home. There is someone who monitors this and they will come out and inspect the house and force your landlord to fix the problems.  

Oh and be sure when you mail your landlord, to send it certified (so you have proof it was sent and he will sign saying he received it), and make a copy of it. Put in there if he doesn't start to make changes in x amount of days you will contact someone who will make sure it happens (which is whoever in your state monitors these things).  

Answer 3

While you can withhold money for repairs, you need to put that money into a seperate accounty.  You can't just not pay the rent and use the money.  If these were problems, ie smoke detector, you should of brought this up upon move in, not now when you are being evicted.  As a longtime renter (and a good one at that) most landlords will allow you to fix things and take it off of the rent with a receipt.  So now, suck it up you are being evicted.  Next time pay your rent.

Answer 4

You have renters rights by law you cna look up your rights at the link below. Also you can contact your local city hall and ask about his units and where he got his lisc. and report him to the company and the city as well because having mold is a hazard to your health and mostly your infant son. And you can sue him for unlawful eviction just keep note of all the things he says times you call, etc. Take this up to the city and use your rights as a renter

Answer 5

I always find it interesting that folks about to be evicted for nonpayment of rent always find lots of serious problems that the landlord didn't fix.

Not paying your rent was the worst thing you could do.  Now your landlord can legally evict you not matter what kind of repair issues.

You should have contacted the local health department or housing inspector. They would have inspected your home and required the landlord to make repairs within a certain time or face huge fines.

Answer 6

Your huge error was in withholding rent payments.  As soon as you do so, you are in violation of your lease agreement, regardless of any unresolved issues.  You need to understand that you CANNOT withhold rents because of such issues.  You need to resolve them via the appropriate channels.

Answer 7

not having smoke detectors in the house is against regulation contact your city hall to have them speak to him/get him in trouble so that he'll have to fix something

Answer 8

It is always easy to tell when someone is ready to become a home owner.  Once you own your home, you won't ever have to wait for anyone else to stop your child from getting sick from mold.  In the meantime, you have a lousy landlord.  But a smoke detector is $5 so just get one and don't worry about the expense.  Get ready to move when your lease is up. /