Post by textbookcase on Jan 6, 2017 14:28:49 GMT -5
I moved into this house on November 1 and have had nothing but problems with the landlords. On the initial walk through the carpet was covered w plastic and they said it was new. When I moved in the carpet was full of pet stains and obviously not new. Okay. Whatever. Then the heater didn't work, which thankfully was only a broken thermostat and they fixed that asap. Many of the outlets either don't work or plugs fall out. The dining room light has electrical problems, it blows bulbs as soon as you put them in. The trees outside need trimmed badly, like really badly, which was supposed to happen the first week I moved in and hasn't happened two months later because apparently "no tree company is willing to come trim them". None of the windows have screens on them. There's mold in the bathrooms.
Worst of all, the roof leaks. They sent a handyman to put a tarp on it, the tarp has done nothing. We've had an unusually rainy winter so far and there is water pouring through the roof and into a bathroom, hallway, and carpeted room. The water gets trapped behind the paint and forms giant bubbles of water on the walls.
I've texted them repeatedly and saved all texts. I've taken pictures of the issues. What's my next step here? Who do I call? Do I need a lawyer? Can I withhold rent? It's ridiculous! I hate this house! I don't want to move again!
I would look up tenant laws in your state. I don't think that you can withhold rent but in some states you can escrow it but I don't know how you go about that. I would definitely contact a lawyer to see what your next step is. No one should have to live like that.
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown
Are these code violations? I would list-out your priorities for immediate action and give the a date - or state you will be forced to call codes. It's a big step to get codes to make a report on a rental, so only formalize a report as a last case senerio.
You can find the number/department now and ask what are code violations. They will work with you before you formalize a report. Your county should have a department.
Health department, social services to see about emergency housing if there's a reason you need to leave, umm.. I would definitely contact someone from the housing dept in your county, I just don't know who.
I have the shittiest landlord ever. I feel you, leaks and all. Ugh.
I mean, let's be realistic, these people are not going to get things fixed to your satisfaction. You're going to have to move again.
You've documented everything and that's a great first step. Look up landlord-tenant laws in your area and see who is favored. Most places put preference to one side or the other. You'll need to see what steps you have to take to legally get out of your existing lease.
Not quite the same situation, but we had a major issue and basically had to break our lease and move out. Colorado law favors tenants, so it was a reasonably easy process. We sent a certified letter stating the situation and the area of the law that states the landlord has x number of days to fix a problem that makes the house uninhabitable (in our case, the only toilet wouldn't flush due to tree roots in the plumbing and there was a circuit breaker panel that was a major fire hazard; in your case, the roof leak is likely an "uninhabitable" situation). We sent another letter right before we moved out, when they had done nothing to fix the problems, and stated our intent to move out on x date and our expectation that the security deposit would be returned. Of course, she didn't return the deposit, so we sued in small claims court and won triple damages.
I would do a little research on your own. See how easy it is to figure this out without the help of an attorney. If you do feel like you need an attorney, go in armed with very specific questions so you can get the right information in as little billable time as possible. Proceed from there. I would not withhold rent until you do some research or talk to an attorney. Continue to document everything and get everything in writing. Pay for certified mail if necessary and communicate via email.
And, I'm really sorry because that just fucking blows.
I would look up tenant laws in your state. I don't think that you can withhold rent but in some states you can escrow it but I don't know how you go about that. I would definitely contact a lawyer to see what your next step is. No one should have to live like that.
Thanks, yeah I'm going to look into a lawyer, I was just looking back at my texts and I started saving texts on November 20th the first time it rained and the roof leaked. He said he prefers that I call rather than text but I want to have written proof of everything I've asked him to repair.
You can call but then follow up with an email that goes something like: "I am writing to confirm the details of our conversation on x date..." (and enter the details)
Post by textbookcase on Jan 6, 2017 16:33:03 GMT -5
YOU GUYS THERE IS A LITERAL FUCKING MUSHROOM GROWING OUT OF MY BATHROOM CEILING. I went to check on the leaks and take pics. This happened overnight. What. The. Fuck.
YOU GUYS THERE IS A LITERAL FUCKING MUSHROOM GROWING OUT OF MY BATHROOM CEILING. I went to check on the leaks and take pics. This happened overnight. What. The. Fuck.
This is not legal advice, just what I'd probably do: give notice and include a list of absolutely everything that's wrong, take pictures of everything, move out, and dare them to come after me in small claims court for the remainder of the lease. I'd be willing to gamble that a picture of a fucking mushroom growing out the ceiling would convince a small claims judge taht the premises were uninhabitable and that breaking the lease was therefore justified.
This is not legal advice, just what I'd probably do: give notice and include a list of absolutely everything that's wrong, take pictures of everything, move out, and dare them to come after me in small claims court for the remainder of the lease. I'd be willing to gamble that a picture of a fucking mushroom growing out the ceiling would convince a small claims judge taht the premises were uninhabitable and that breaking the lease was therefore justified.
Yeah I just walked through and took pics of everything. There is a ton of new mold that popped up overnight near the FUCKING MUSHROOM. I'm compiling a list of everything and I have a file in my phone of all the texts I've sent him since November. I'm so grossed out. Fuck those people.
I would take a newspaper with the date, write your name on it and set it next to the mushroom (and mold and other problems) and take a picture. Just to be on the safe side. Because your landlord sounds like an extra douchy person and I wouldn't take any changes.
I would take a newspaper with the date, write your name on it and set it next to the mushroom (and mold and other problems) and take a picture. Just to be on the safe side. Because your landlord sounds like an extra douchy person and I wouldn't take any changes.
Post by themysteriouswife on Jan 6, 2017 17:20:02 GMT -5
There is no way in hell a judge will agree with a LL over this. Can you stay somewhere else for now? I would be worried about the kids health. (Which I'm sure you are)
I would bet that they didn't have the place inspected. In order to rent our house out (this is in PA, obviously laws may be slightly different elsewhere), we had to have someone from the township come out and inspect the property. Our house was built in the 50s and so a lot of the electricity needed updating. We had to have it all fixed in order to legally rent the place out.
I would call your township/city building and ask if the place was inspected. Report the problems and maybe ask for an email address that you can send your evidence.
I called on a landlord years ago because the townhouse next to mine had a gas leak and a bunch of guys who smoked a lot of pot all night long. Not a good combination. The landlord did not fix the gas leak, and I did not want to blow up. They fixed it within 24 hours, once the housing authority got involved, after weeks of previous complaints with no action. A mushroom growing from the ceiling is a pretty clear sign you have other kinds of mold.
Edit: Atlanta does not require a license for individual landlords, but they still will get involved in a case as egregious, as yours. Other cities and towns likely have similar because in my experience, Atlanta doesn't do a lot, it doesn't have to do.
I know this is the least of your problems, but missing or damaged screens are a safety hazard because a child could fall out of an open window. Sorry to hear you're dealing with this.
I know this is the least of your problems, but missing or damaged screens are a safety hazard because a child could fall out of an open window. Sorry to hear you're dealing with this.
Screens DO NOT prevent children from falling out of windows. I know you meant well, but this advice bothered me because it isn't true. Screens are meant to keep things like insects out, but not keep children in. Yes, an open window might be more dangerous, but I would hate for anyone to read this and continue to think a screened window is safe.
OP, you got some good advice. Your situation sucks and I hope it can be remedied in some way soon. We dealt with mold in our condo once, and the gross thing is that if you can see a little mold on the walls, it often means there is a ton of mold on the inside that you can't see. I hope you can get out of the place ASAP.
I know this is the least of your problems, but missing or damaged screens are a safety hazard because a child could fall out of an open window. Sorry to hear you're dealing with this.
Screens DO NOT prevent children from falling out of windows. I know you meant well, but this advice bothered me because it isn't true. Screens are meant to keep things like insects out, but not keep children in. Yes, an open window might be more dangerous, but I would hate for anyone to read this and continue to think a screened window is safe.
OP, you got some good advice. Your situation sucks and I hope it can be remedied in some way soon. We dealt with mold in our condo once, and the gross thing is that if you can see a little mold on the walls, it often means there is a ton of mold on the inside that you can't see. I hope you can get out of the place ASAP.
YES! My sister fell out of a window when the screen popped out because she leaned against it. Thankfully, it was a first floor window so she wan't hurt. She was only 4.
Another idea would be to see if the landlord would agre to reimburse you for the repairs. You may be rolling the dice to a certain degree but something to consider so as to not wait for him to complete it and to ensure the repairs were completed by a legit company. This would allow you to get the repairs fixed and to deal with the money issue after.
It is something to consider. I would make sure everything is in writing and both agree to every step of the process. I.e. agree to the company, the repairs to be completed and the estimated amount. If they fail to pay you will be able to sue them which may be some time but you will not worry about having to find a place or wait to for the repairs to be completed.
Do you have any family that can take a look? See if they can help trying to re-route the water way from the damaged areas of the roof for the time being?