can i sue?

Question

I have lived in my apt for 4 years now and it is falling apt, and everything i complain about, they tell me it is my fault for not telling them sooner and tell me that i have to fix the problems myself, the thing is it is hard to contact the manager, she is only here on saturdays, when they do actually fix something it falls back apart. I am fed up and want to move, but i would like to know if i can get my four years rent back because they have let me live in this place with out fixing the problems. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME
ALSO: it is goverment owned.

ok, i am not a freeloader just pissed k and i pay around 400 a month i don't see that as paying very little do you?

Answer 1

There are too many problems, just move.

Answer 2

Government owned as in military housing or as in the projects?

The military is very strict about making repairs. If you live in a project, contact HUD or your local housing authority for an inspection.

Your area may allow you to "repair & deduct" or you may have the ability to withold rent until repairs are completed. You have to find out what the local law is.

No one is going to give you your rent money back. They didn't "let" you live there, you chose to live there. You are free to live any place that you can afford, and you have the ability to move at any time.

FYI, $400 a month is very little. Where I live a parking space will run you around $600 to $700 a month, never mind an apartment.

Answer 3

Free past rent, forget it.

Do not ever "only" call management about problems, but also write a letter. If you have to complain twice, send another letter, registered with a return receipt request.

If you plan to stay there, do it now. Write a letter, registered, list all the times you called in the past. Keep a copy.
If they do not repair the problems in 30 days or less, send a copy of the letter and a copy of your receipt to the Apartment Association in you city or state.

You might include in that letter that you do not feel compelled to pay any further rent until the issues are solved.

The registered letter has some legal clout.

Gov. owned?

Geezzz. Follow your instincts.

Answer 4

No, you can't get your rent back. You can force your landlord to make the necessary repairs though. As this has been going on for a long time, you probably should consult with an attorney.

If there are problems with your rental unit, you should notify the landlord IN WRITING of the problems. You need to do this as soon as you are aware of the problem.

If you fail to notify the landlord promptly, they can and will hold you liable for any damage that resulted from your failure to make timely notification. I used to be a landlord and did exactly that when a tenant failed to notify me immediately of a problem. In once case, a sewage leak had started and caused some minor damage initially. The tenant waited several months before notifying me. By that time, the damage had become severe. What should have cost a few hundred to fix was now up past $20,000.00! Luckily they had insurance that eventually paid on their behalf but they were held liable for all of the additional damage due to their failure to notify me of the problem promptly.

Answer 5

I would contact a free legal service. Take all your paperwork with you. You probably won't get your rent back, but you MIGHT get a settlement. There are laws saying that rental properties must meet certain habitation standards. (Slum lords can get in big trouble nowadays.)

The fact that it is owed by the government is not a good thing. Management can only fix what they can get compensation for. That's why I think your best bet is an attorney. Then move to a better place.

Answer 6

Most of the answers above are correct in one way or another.

First, you have to make sure everything is DOCUMENTED, when you complained did you do so verbally or with a letter? Obviously any judge will want to see written proof of when you complained and proof that your landlord received it. Second, if you do withhold your rent you NEED to put your payments in an "Escrow Account" at the bank. That way if they sue you or try to evict you and you sue back YOU will have proof that you didn't withhold rent to go shopping, you withheld rent to protest the lousy condition at your place. Then you let the judge decide who gets what...

Answer 7

no u can get your rent back! if u are in a lease dont pay the rent until they fix the problems and are they big problems or are u being picky or fix them and withhold it from the rent. And did they make u live there, NO u could move at anytime, u put up with it.

Answer 8

You probably can't get four years of rent back, but you might be able to get reimbursed for expenses incurred to keep the apartment habitable and in compliance with the lease provisions. You may also be entitled to withhold some of your rent until serious deficiencies are cured. You should contact a lawyer BEFORE you do these things, and provide him/her with a copy of your lease.

Answer 9

If it is government owned then you probably pay nothing or very little to live there so how can you get something back from nothing?? Why did you stay there so long?? Contact the building inspector in your area and also the better business bureau ~ they can help with the conditions.

Answer 10

Threaten them and tell them your giong to call the Department of Housing Devolepment or just go ahead and call them. Look in the phone book under government pages. Put some fire under their a$$ and you'll see results.
If it is government owned call HUD (housing and urban development). Take pictures and tell them you are going to call them and get their funding pulled. From what I understand HUD would jump all over this. You cant get your money back but at least your apartment will get fixed.

Answer 11

You should find your nearest free legal service. There are places that will help give you advice like that when you can't afford an attorney.

Take your lease with you.

If they have violated anything in the lease, and you have proof, then you can get your money back probably. But don't quit paying your rent, then you are in trouble.