I didnt pay my rent and now my landlord says he is taking me to court, What do i do under these circumstances?

Question

As a landlord she has been making my staying pretty miserable, Please read.
-She was always popping up with out calling me.
-She never gave me a mailbox key
-She had my water shut off, (it was under her name and she was okay with that and we had an understanding that I would pay it)
-She did not call me to tell me she was going to have it shut off, and I was with out water for 36hours.
-I never received my mail because of her failure to provide me with a key and was unable to get my bills and regular mail
-We never signed any contract what so ever. It was all verbal
-2 months living there she increased my rent from 1,300 to 1,500 in the same month it was do.
-I offered to pay more contigent upon her not selling the property and she was okay with that but then opted to sell it 2months later.

I’m sure there are real-estate laws she has violated California Real Estate laws with the water and failure to provide a key and increasing my rent. Someone please help me, I want to go to court prepared if that Is the case. What laws were violated if any? What should I do?

Answer 1

MOVE

Answer 2

Hire an experienced attorney in landlord/tenant law and don't take the advice of anyone from the Internet. Obviously, you don't have the funds to do this since you can't even afford to pay rent. However, consider borrowing from family members or also simply approaching your county's "legal aid" office (should they have one). If you can prove you honestly don't have the income to hire an attorney, often they will represent you. Such might not exactly entail any sort of court proceeding or legal agreement. Sometimes just having an attorney call your landlord can go a long way toward giving you some breathing room to make rent.

Hire an attorney!

Answer 3

Turning the water off renders the property uninhabitable (as a matter of law) which excuses you from any obligation to pay rent after that point. But only for the time the water was turned off, and only if you were not under the obligation to pay for the water.

However, none of the other things make the property uninhabitable, despite being annoying, so they don't excuse you from rent obligations.

She can sue you for the amount of rent you agreed to pay -- but not for any rent that you did not agree to pay.

Answer 4

OK i don't know much about California law or anything but this is what you do you move the **** out and don't pay her rent with out an actual contract the terms can not be prooven and find an apartment or roommate. also have your mail redirected to a po box or mail box

Answer 5

your word against hers im afraid
always read and sign a proper contract
on the other hand dont pay anything
she hasnt got any proof of you being her tenant either
only if you are thinking of leaving anyway
is your initial down payment in advance
higher in value than the money she says
you owe her if it is she will keep it all to cover her losses
in which case pay her the money you owe and collect the change or difference,put it down to a bad experience without a contract

Answer 6

You are a tenant at will.

Cutting off your water is illegal!

If I were you I would leave! You are living a nightmare anyway!

As a tenant at will she needs to give you 1 months notice to increase your rent!!

Answer 7

well you didnt have a written aggrement so im not sure what to tell you find a new place fast she sounds like an a hole to meeee tell the judge that im sure he will dismiss the case tho due to no written aggrement good luck.

Answer 8

There are lots of laws for every problem you have. Why deal with the drama.... Just move .... problem fixed!

Answer 9

Pay the damn rent and quit sponging off people, simple.