Renting laws in Maine-?

Question

My sink is leaky and has flooded my apartment twice now, and only one of the burners on my stove works. There are also mice in my apartment every once in a while. My landlord ignores me when I ask her to fix my sink and stove, but yells at me when she has to come drain the sink because it starts dripping into the apartment underneath me. At what point can I get the problems fixed myself and take the cost off my rent?

Answer 1

Generally, you will need to inform your landlord of the issue via certified letter (to have a delivery confirmation) that there is a problem that needs to be fixed. After a week or two, you send another letter stating that if the problem is not fixed by X date, you will have the repair made yourself and deduct the amount from your rent. THEN, you get an estimate and send another letter with the estimate stating that you are having this work completed on X date and that the cost will be deducted from your X month rent. Turn in a copy of the receipt for service with that month's rent check.

I don't know about any time frames for specific states, but documenting the issue and informing the landlord are the key components. Sorry I can't give more info. This is just a general guideline.

Answer 2

Your best bet is to take her to your local housing court, and ask for a rent escrow.

You continue making rent payments, but the payments are held by the court until the work is done.

It's the only legal way for you to withhold or use your rent money as leverage for her to do the work you need done.

Don't just spend your money and fix the stuff yourself and assume you can just deduct it from your rent. Unless your landlord agrees, in writing, to allow you to do this, you'll just be out the money you spent and have to keep paying rent too.

Answer 3

You need to send your apt mgmt a letter stating the problems. They will be given a certain amount of time to do this. If they do not fulfill their obligations, you can legally break your lease and move. I do not know much about it, so you need to look up more information online or contact your local housing regulation administration for more details. I would avoid fixing the problems yourself b/c it will be difficult getting the money back.

Answer 4

Your landlord must provide you with a habitable living enviorment. Thats is what you pay your rent for. They are required to make necessary repairs. See the link and good luck.

Answer 5

i think of you're confusing new codes and rules with regulations set by using the owner of a privately owned trailer park. many stuff are "grandfathered" in Maine proper to city and state ordinances consisting of setback, old shape, region of homes etc. in spite of the undeniable fact that, i understand of no regulations proper to regulations and rules by using a private landlord offering, of direction, that they do no longer violate easy housing and discrimination regulations.