I am renting a house in VA. After inspection, do I have the right to make the repair claims by myself ?

Question

The owner send a list of estimates for fixing the house and they are outrageously high. The landlord proceeded to the repair without letting the change to fix it by myself

Answer 1

Depends on your lease agreement. I would contact the housing authority for advise. They have a website I beleive. G/L!

Answer 2

You're a renter, remember this OK. One thing to do and always do when first moving into a place is take pictures! When leaving this is not a bad idea either!
This way when and if a dispute is started you have pictures....

Is the owner making you pay for it all? To my understanding a renter doesn't have to many rights as far as this issue goes. It has been a while since being a renter, but I rented a long time in the past!

Good luck! Hope everything works out for the best...

Answer 3

Normally the landlord is NOT required to give you the option of doing the repairs yourself. Assuming that you are responsible for damages caused by yourself or your family or guests, the time to do that was prior to moving out of the property.

Your only chance of any recourse -- and it is not a strong one -- is to prove that the charges are well in excess of what would be normal in the area. Keep in mind that professional repairs can be quite expensive. While a hole in the wall might not look like much, it might take a dry-wall hangar 2 or 3 hours to patch it properly and they can earn upwards of $25.00 per hour or more! Then he needs to bring in a painter to complete the job. He is under no obligation to use a cut-rate "handyman" for repairs and in many jurisdictions is required by law to use licensed professionals for any repair work.

The landlord is only generally required to send you a recap of the repair costs. He or she does NOT have to wait for you to get your own quotes or to challenge the estimates. As often as not, once you get the notice the repairs have already been completed. Your only option is to accept the charges and settle any shortfall between the repair costs and your security deposit as quickly as possible.

If the landlord is trying to dock you for "normal wear and tear" items or repairs that the landlord would normally be responsible for (roof repairs, plumbing leaks, etc.) then you do have a claim against the landlord. But if it's for damages that you admit responsibility for, you're out of luck. In that case, pay up!

Answer 4

Please realize that the landlord/owner wants to be sure, and is held to liabililty if the repairs you make are not up to 'code' or not properly done, it may affect his vital interests, like his property insurance may not cover any damages, if the repairs made were not done by licencesed contractor, or according to local permit inspector's ok

While costs done by such licensed, bonded, insured contractors may be higher than what it would cost for you to have it done by unlicenses, unbonded, uninsured contractor, or by yourself, the owner/landlord may have such other legitimate reasons why s/he may insist on having his own contractor, repair person make the repairs

Answer 5

you are not responsible for repair costs!! unless your in a lease, AND the the lease states such a responsibility. check with your local housing authority, then consider moving without paying, the owner will not have a case against you. it sounds as if he may be taking advantage of the fact that your foreign, and unfamiliar with the laws.

Answer 6

NO, you do not have that right.