My roommate and I are in Florida. We are 2 single mom's, very clean, very puctual with rent (we've always been early, NEVER late..) and we pay $1000, and paid an $1800 deposit. We've had issues since occupying the house in November that have yet to be resolved. On a recent visit, my property manager tells me that my roommate and I need to go buy lumber and reinforce the stairs to the front door. Then she tells me to chip some paint off the wall, go to home depot and buy paint to paint all the walls..(I understand touching up, but c'mon, paint the ENTIRE house, when we've never touched it?!) We're on a water well, and our cold water line to the washing machine keeps getting clogged with sand. And the last straw was yesterday. Because the 1st fell on a Sunday, my roommate went to go drop the rent off to her office yesterday, the 2nd. The manager wants to tack on a $100 late fee because we were a day late (mind you, we're always early..) Am I wrong to find her actions unfair?
2007-07-03 07:22:57 · 4 answers · asked by onthehalfchelle 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
No, you aren't wrong. You are not responsible for upkeep and repairs that should be covered by the landlord. Take a good look at your lease, check for any fine print about repairs/damage. Document all of the info: the reinforcement, painting, etc, and consult a real estate lawyer.
2007-07-03 07:35:29 · answer #1 · answered by mischiefinthemoonlight 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Start putting the rent money into a separate bank account and go to the landlord with a list of grievances. The landlord has the responsibility to fix any existing damage and you must pay for any that was done by you and your kids(if any). Tell the landlord you will not pay the rent until all the work on the house is done. If he/she takes you to court, bring a record of the rent account and a list of repairs that need doing along with photos of the problems. As long as you have all the money in a separate account and are willing to pay when the repairs are made, your landlord will have to do the repairs, or take off some part of the rent if you do them yourself. A landlord cannot tell a tenant to fix his/her property. A landlord can only ask that you do not harm the property while you are there.
2007-07-03 07:34:50 · answer #2 · answered by magix151 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can either give in, give up, or fight back.
Give in: pay him the $100
Give up: find a new apartment
Fight back: sue, and try to paint him as a slum lord.
2007-07-03 07:29:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i wouldnt say so ur landlord probarlly has a problem have a long talk with him/her
2007-07-03 07:27:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋