Do renters have rights?

Question

I live in the state of Idaho. I'm renting a house have been for over a year in April i reported to my landlord that my AC wasn't working he said he'd get on it he never did in May I call an AC repair he came out and fixed it the wiring was all messed up and No freon it cost me 194.00 to fix in july the stove went out he replaced it with a diffrent kind and had to pull out some cabinets said he would fix it left a big hole but he would have to build them since then I've asked him about them and he said he has them but hasn't gottin around to it now my water heater has gone bad everytime we shower we have to reset it an then it is boiling hot and i have two young children I called him today and told him i had his rent and he asked if I'd be home I said yes I then told him my dishwasher had went out and reminded him of the other things he then told me he was out of town he'd be sending someone over for the money What I want to know do I have to keep paying rent when he won't fix things?

Answer 1

The landlord should make repairs to the AC.

Here's a link to the government housing site that describes tenant/rentor rights in Idaho...

http://www.hud.gov/local/id/renting/tenantrights.cfm

Read through it and get your ammunition together and then try one more time talking to the landlord.
If he doesn't do what's right, report him to your local housing authority.

Answer 2

Yes u must keep paying rent but u should also b documenting all calls to him concerning defective appliances, etc, and keeping all receipts for what u pay for. Dates and times u called, using a cell to do that helps as its monthly statement shows numbers called and times and dates; signed paperwork from repairmen stating appliance was indeed defective and was replaced with comporable unit, or repaired back to working condition, etc. Documentation, doocumentation, documentation. You must give him proper notice when something fails and a sufficient amount of time for him to repair/replace the items. U may havta take him to small claims court to retrieve your money you have paid out, but b forwarned, look at your renters contract again to make sure it doesn't say anything about u not being able 2 have stuff repaired/replaced or u may have just "donated" all that stuff 2 him.
A call to the state agency that oversees renters will allow u 2 b privy to any info u may need concerning this, also most atty's don't charge for initial consultation to discuss a case. U may b able 2 put the rent money into whats called an "escrow", where u r still paying but he can't collect until all repairs r made, again an atty can advise u on this also.
Don't let those kids get burned with scalding water from water heater in shower. That is a definite no-no for a landlord to shy away from.
Good luck and GOD bless.

Answer 3

You damn sure better believe it.

LETTERS! LETTERS! LETTERS! Can you wirte LETTERS!

Phone calls can be disputed and never proven. One can always claim no knowledge of such things.

Send him a registerd letter detailing all the things you've laid out here, with dates, conversations, your expense to repair the AC, deduct that from rent. State that you will "withold any further rent payments" until the unit is brought up to a livable standard.

Use current date
Address to landlord
at address

Reference your address, name of apartments
Your unit number
Your phone number

Body of letter

Sign.

At the bottom:
Copy: Apartment Association
City Health Department

Make copies, and mail to those agencies. Registered not necessary. Keep a copy for your records.

You will get action.

You rent a unit with the expectation that appliances are in working order. It's his responsibility to keep them that way. It's all included in your rent.

Hold the rent. Mail the letters today. He'll have hell trying to collect.

Answer 4

I live in California, so do not have specific knowledge of Idaho, but, generally speaking, renters usually have more rights than do owners because, normally it is the owner's responsibility to provide safe and habitable quarters. As Fireball says, read your lease for specifics. Anything not specifically covered in your lease (that is, excluded) is usually covered by by what is called, in most states, the "Tenant Bill of Rights."
Generally, the bill states that any occupancy designed as a residence must meet specific requirements. I.e: Heat, water, dry roof, adequate escape paths (in case of fire or other emergency), etc.
When you pay your rent you are entitled to a clear occupancy, meaning no one, not even the landlord, can enter your residence without your permission unless there is a clear and present danger either to persons or the property (if the landlord smells smoke, or hears a gunshot, for example, that would constitute a danger either to a person or to the property and he could come in to investigate.)
If you suspect your rights are being violated you should contact the local housing authority. If there is no housing authority, contact the county sherrif

Answer 5

Yes you must keep paying rent, however, if you are unhappy with the living conditions he fails to repair you can go to the courthouse and escrow your rent until the items are fixed. Legally you are paying your rent so you haven't broken any of the terms of your lease agreement, however, you pay them to the courts and they then have to inform your landlord to make the repairs to the establishment. Once they have been completed to your satisfaction, the courts will release the money to the Landlord. If you cease to pay then he has a reason to evict you from the house.

Your landlord is under legal obligation to make repairs within a reasonable amount of time as long as you continue to pay rent on time he is liable. Tell your landlord if he doesn't get the items on your list repaired within a reasonable amount of time that you will file a complaint with the courts and you will escrow your rent until he does.

There are attorney's out there that deal in Tenant/Landlord real estate law, I suggest you consult one to find out your rights.

Answer 6

YOU never have to pay to have something fixed. IF you paid for the AC repair, attach the receipt with your adjusted rent and tell him you'll continue to repair the broken things inthe apartment and deduct them from your rent since he won't do it.
You could also pay a lawyer money to send a demand letter. They don't charge much, usually less than $50 to write one on your behalf. If he thinks you've obtained a lawyer, he'll be much more likely to fix these things.
He is legally responsible to fix things in a timely manner. You CAN report him, that might also light a fire under his bum and make him take you seriously

Answer 7

contact your city government people they'll be able to tell you what you can do... The things that need to be fixed if you can't do without them pay for someone to come in and do it and get a receipt for the work and deduct that amount from your rent. I'd definitely report him to the authorities.. there's no reason you should be living like that... if he's not willing to fix the problems he needs to sell the house and get out of the landlord business... Take pictures and document when you called him to tell him about these problems... he could go to jail if you filed a lawsuit.

Answer 8

I understand your problem and the answer to your question is yes tenants have most of the rights. Tell me where in the world a tenants can wright a bad check for rent and deposit and never pay a dime in rent and the landlord can't get them out without taking 3 months and legal action that costs him thousands of dollars, and when they move out they trash the place? Only in the good old USA.

Answer 9

Hell to the Nizzo! (Jay-Z School of Expression)...There's a thing called ESCROW. You can put your rent in "escrow" until he fixes all the stuff AND reimburses you the $194 you paid for the ac repair. You first probably have to go down to the city to file it or whatever. Check your white pages for Landlord/Tenant numbers to call, keep calling numbers until you find out which office handles that and go there and file the necessary papers to do it properly. Slumlords like him don't expect tenants to know their rights and continue to take advantage of them if they can. Isn't if funny how he can get somebody there to pick up the money, but can't send anybody to repair that raggedly mofo??? Do the escrow thing and I guarantee you he will make sure everything is working from now on. He may be pissed, but he won't continue to mess over you like that...Once you hit em where it hurts--in the pockets--, then they get the message. Good Luck with that!

Answer 10

Yes, you need a court order in order to withhold rent.