What should I do now since my landlord won't take my phone calls?

Question

Well, my girlfriend has been calling my landlord for the past couple of weeks and getting no response. Since I started leasing I have had a few complaints and it takes many calls before I get any action. Now the refrigerator leaks, the a/c thermostat is out of whack and not cooling properly, the grass needs to be cut and there is algae on the steps (I live in upstairs of a duplex). My girlfriend and I have both slipped on the steps (even while holding on the rail) after it has rained or in the early morning with the dew. My girlfriend had a big bruise on her butt. The steps are the biggest issue because my mom sometimes visits and she has severe neck trauma and this could turn out to be very bad if she fell. It could result in death because her neck is so unstable.

Can I withhold rent or should I send a certified letter? I need immediate action, especially to get the steps pressure washed. Also, his mother is the owner so I only have her address. I don't have his to send the letter.

His mother (landlord) lives in Florida and he (the guy/son who acts like the landlord) lives here in Georgia.

Answer 1

no - you cannot readily withhold rent....
write a letter to your landlord outlining your concerns and give him a timeline to complete the repairs. send it certified , return receipt requested....to make sure "he" signs and receives it.

tell him in the letter if you do not have these items fixed by (whatever date) then you will have them correcte using a contractor and will deduct the expense from your rent.

well--i read at the end that "his" mother is the owner...so this is gonna be touchy...be aready for an eviction or 30 day notice....()andy why can't he dela with his mama)?


good luck.....

Answer 2

I agree send them a certified letter and if it isn't fixed in the time allowed either pay to have the stuff fixed yourself and deduct from rent or save your rent money until you have enough to move out. We had a landlord do this to us and we had a lawyer draw up the letter stating that we would be living there until we had enough to move out and she still tried to sue us. Of course when the judge heard that the bathroom pipes were draining sewage under the house for three months and she didn't do anything he sided with us. I am now a homeowner because I would rather deal with hubby and trying to make him fix stuff than a crappy landlord.

Answer 3

It may not be the most ethical way to handle it, but I would withhold rent - it will at least get their attention. Getting somebody evicted is usually a lot more trouble than pressure washing some steps and fixing a thermostat.
You could also contract the pressure washing (or do it yourself with a rental washer or something) and then deduct that from your rent, also not the most ethical but effective at getting the point across.

Answer 4

Send a certified letter to the owner. If they don't resolve the issue of the steps pay for the pressure washing yourself and deduct it from the rent. Even if it turns out not allowed you could save your mother's life. It won't cost much to rent a pressure washer a half day or you could wash them with a stiff brush and garden hose free.

Answer 5

Send a certified letter stating if they do not get the issues fixed (itimize issues) you will consider this a breach of the lease and start looking for a new place...obviously keep a copy for yourself...

I am sure the mother doesn't even know about the issues, her deadbeat son has probably blown all the rent and can't fix the issues because he has no money. Offer to fix the issues yourself in exchange for taking the money it costs you to fix things out of your rent...this would be the fastest and easiest way to get things fixed. Request she send you her phone number since you have no way to contact her personal representative (refer to him this way so she understands he is legally representing her in a poor manner).

To bolster your position try to get the other neighbor to write a letter about the steps as well.

Answer 6

Your city may have what is called a Housing Court. Call them and see what you have to do to hold your rent in escrow in order to get him moving on repairs. They can call an Inspector out to look at it and see if there are any code violations. But, even if there aren't, you can hold rent in escrow (have it paid into a bank account) until he makes the repairs. You have to put him on notice prior to doing this. Just call the court and they will tell you what to do. If you don't have a court, call the free legal clinic in your city or see if the local bar association has lawyers that take calls on a particular day during the week and answer questions for free.

Answer 7

You really should talk to a lawyer, this is not something you should rely on anonymous internet user advice for. Meanwhile, be sure to keep a list of every complaint you have and of every time you attempt to contact your landlord, and keep updating it as things happen - that will be important if you end up having to sue him.

Answer 8

Contact your local courts and ask them since liability laws are different everywhere.

Answer 9

SUE THEM FOR FAILURE TO MAKE A UNSAFE LIVING ENVIROMENT AND FAILURE TO MAKE A SUITABLE LIVING ENVIROMENT. IN SMALL CLAIMS YOU SHOULD GET $5000 NOTE:I AM NOT A LAWYER. FOR EXPERT LAW ADVICE PLEASE CONTACT A REAL LAWYER!