My family and I rented this house three years ago. It was fenced in in the backyard, therefore wanting it....?

Question

The owner of the house knew we wanted a dog, so we got one. Three months ago, we had a really bad storm and it tore down all the fencing around the back yard. Now we have no way of keeping our dog in the yard unless we chain him (Something he doesn't like at all) The owner has been telling week after week that a fencing company is coming to put up a new fence, but no one ever comes.
This creates a problem with our neighbors as they have 3 dogs and don't chain any of them and we have found them in our yard. It doesn't help with keeping our kids confined as well.
My question is, is there anything my husband and I can do to make the owner get the fences put back up?
My husband and I don't have the finances ourselves or we would have done it.
Isn't there something we can do considering he has basically lied to us and now we have no safe enclosure for our kids or our dog?
What are our rights, if any to make him put the fence up?

There is no fence left to repair.

Answer 1

You should check your lease. If it says something about the landlord's responsibility being to keep up the outside of the house (similar to, let's say, if he's responsible for shoveling the steps if it snows or fixing external locks, etc) then most likely he should replace it.

If the lease says it's rented as is, then the fence was part of that agreement and needs to be replaced.

Check for websites for your state about tenant rights. If he doesn't replace it, then you might be able to put your rent in escrow and send him a certified letter stating it's in escrow until he resolves the fencing problem.

It sounds like he's at least intending to do it so maybe a simple comment like "we need this resolved... would it be better if we use next month's rent to get the repairs started" might be enough to get him going on it.

Or offer to call places and get quotes...

Answer 2

Things are diff in every State, but, you should be covered under some kind of "Renters rights" as there are some here in NY, most landlords around here say the tenant has more rights than they do. Was the house advertised with "fenced in back yard"? Check out your lease. Maybe also inquire as to how much it would cost to have the yard fenced in, and if its within your financial means, tell your landlord you would be willing to put a certain amount towards the bill.. (just a suggestion)

As mentioned above, where someone said to have the company do it, and then bill the owner, thats a definite no-no, unless the owner OK's it, you would be the responsible party for the whole bill.

Answer 3

Since you are only there for two years, I wouldn't bother. Why not just walk your dog on a leash and find a dog park nearby where he can run off leash a few times a week? Although trainers don't like them, I think a long retractable leash is fine for most dogs. Plus, it gets people out walking the dog more frequently which isn't a bad thing if you have such a great location. You can, at a pinch, get an aerial cable system. It is a line that is attached between two trees or posts and allows a leash to be run down its length. If you want him to sit outside with you without having to hold onto a leash, you can get a number of stake outs (metal curly cue stakes that you twist into the ground - $2 or $3 each at a home depot) and place them around the yard. Get some long leashes and attach one end to the dog and slip the other end to the stake outs.

Answer 4

This all hinges on the terms of your lease agreement. If you do not have a lease then the owner is not obligated to do anything. You might check to see what the deed restrictions are for your area and/or what ordinances are in place that might work in your favor. If you have a lease and it spells out the owners obligations with regards to defects and problems, this may give you an out assuming that there is a time limit to make necessary repairs.

Answer 5

Try taking your lease to a lawyer and ask him. Chances are they can take as long as they want to fix the fence because it's not really considered priority, like a broken water heater or AC. If your lease doesn't say anything about the fence in particular you may just be SOL. Maybe a letter from the lawyer will scare them enough to get their butts in gear.

Answer 6

Being as it is HIS house and the fence probably isn't mentioned in the rental agreement, there isn't much you can do other than move. A fallen fence doesn't constitute as neglect or lack of repairs, because it isn't making the house unlivable, it is just causing an inconvenience to you.

Answer 7

tell him ur gonna take him to small clams court. cause it is his responsability to get it done. he probably dont want to fix it or anyhting thats why hes not doing anything. just keep pestering him he will eventuly get to it and stuff as for the dogs in ur yard get a bb gun and shoot them everytime thay come in ur yard. my puppy is now chained up and everyone elts's dogs come in are yard and attack my dog all the time and i go out there and shoot them with a bb gun it wont hurt them too bad but thay will end up getting the point and the dogs will stay away

Answer 8

ask him what he did with the insurance ck he got for the fence?

Maybe he could let you not pay rent and put it up yourselves?

It's not like it would cost him to put it up, you KNOW he had insurance. Landlords are pigs.

Answer 9

call the fencing company your self and tell them to bill the owner

Answer 10

it depends what it says in your lease as to whether you have any real recourse. if your month to month, your pretty much screwed


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