Sue A Landlord?

Question

I live in this apartment.....and the owner/landlord...know there is ice on the steps, he is at the apartment everyday, so lay out any salt or anything, and to top it off the handle/post where you can hold on tofor some support is broken. And he didnt fix that either. If someone slipped and hurt themselves could he be sued? And if one of his tenants do sue him, can he raise there rent or possible kick them out? What kind of lawyer would handle this?

Answer 1

Yes they can be sued, but check the city hall for tenancy laws and rights. You can do most of the leg work yourself. Then get a attorney that deals in landlord/tenant rights.

Answer 2

1. YOU NEED A LANDLORD/TENANT LAWYER. (Good luck finding a good one!!!!)

http:// www.findlaw.com can help with this search and provide you with legal information about tenant's rights.

2. The landlord is responsible for maintaining a premises. Snow and ice removal fall under this category, unless you agree to remove snow and ice from the walk in front of your apartment. The bottom line is: IF ITS THE LANDLORDS RESPONSIBILITY, AND A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD EXPECT THE PROBLEM
(IT SNOWED / THERE WAS SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN) THEN THE LANDLORD CAN BE SUED.

3. This sound like a simple case, you may consider going to your local Housing Court or District Court to file a complaint. Rules differ by state so you will have to find out what you need to do, and how to do it. An attorney worth his salt (no pun intended) would consider this ice case a simple matter. (I know about this because I represented myself against my landlord.)

READ UP ON TENANT RIGHTS (Check the Secretary of State's Office in YOUR STATE for information)

Answer 3

He has a legal responsibility to maintain the building in a safe way. First you must notify him in writing about the ice and the broken handrail. Tell him that you expect him to comply with the standards for safe housing and expect it to be fixed. Give him a reasonable dead line. Say about 2 weeks.

When he fails to comply you go out and hire some one to fix it. you go buy some salt and use it. Then deduct the amount from your rent. In your letter you should mention that you will do this if he does not comply.

You can go to your local county court house and get phamphlets on the law concerning this.

You may have to go to small claims court over this but you will win.

Answer 4

Because of the hand rail=yes. The ice=no. The ice is an act of god and is the responcibility of the tenant to do something with. The hand rail however is the landlords responcibility to take care of. Most states have laws that require hand rails on all steps in a rented building.