Question
How can I get my landlord to fix my Central Air Conditioning?
I moved into the house I am currently renting on Jan 29th of this year. The first problem was the refrigerator, There was none although the lease specified i was to be provided with a stove and a fridge. Two days after I moved in they brought a fridge that didn't work. Then it took 2 more wks to provide a fridge, and the 2nd one didn't work either, only the top worked, i bought my own fridge after that. Since then my landlord has failed to fix a numerous small things that were supposed to get fixed before I moved in but the lease was signed and I thought it was too late. Now I have been having a problem with the air conditioning, the vent inside the house has been leaking water for almost 2 MONTHS. I have called constantly and been dodged the whole time. THe leak, which was small when I first contacted them has now spread almost 10 feet down a carpeted hall!!! I have to wear shoes to get to one of the bathrooms and 2 bedrooms. There is a moldy musty smell in the house that is sometimes unbearable. I have always paid my rent on time and have never given my landlords any trouble and I am frustrated because they've been telling me that "someone is on the way" for 2 months. I've explained to them the seriousness of this situation, there is so much water in the carpet it squishes and I know in the end it is their property that will be damaged. They keep brushing me off but i can't keep living in this unsanitary environment. I can't afford to move and my lease is not up until Feb 09. I am very upset and I have been as patient as possible and I don't know what steps to take to get them to do something about it. Can someone please tell me what I should do? Should I hold rent back from them because they aren't fulfilling their part of the lease?
6 months ago - 6 answers
Best Answer
Chosen by Asker
Document the problem with digital photos and send a certified letter to the landlord telling him the problems in the house along with your unsuccessful attempts to have him make repairs. (Keep a copy of the letter and the mail receipt so that you have a record and can prove that he is actually aware of the problems.) You can have the problem repaired yourself and make copies of the repair receipts. You can deduct the cost of the repairs from your rent, sending the receipt copies as proof. If he complains, tell him you would be happy to show the house to the health inspector and let the legal system deal with him. If the carpet has been wet for any period of time, then it may not be salvageable. Too, if the sub-floor is wood rather than concrete, it will be warped as well. It's possible that the water will be soaked up with gypsum walls and if that's the case, it will need to be replaced after the leak is repaired, or you will have ongoing mold problems. If you want to deal with the problems, it's entirely possible you won't be paying rent the rest of your lease time. However, along with the cost, you have the hassle of finding and scheduling workers. Bottom line, since he hasn't kept the house in a livable condition, the lease is voided. You should call a local legal aid group, (where services are free or billed on a sliding scale,) and determine your exact rights in your state. Do this as soon as possible before your health is impacted.
6 months ago
Asker's Rating: 
Other Answers
hire the have it fixed yourself and deduct amount from next rent.
by David Z- 6 months ago
send a certified letter to the landlord stating problems, how many times you have let them know over however long a period of time..also contact the Health Dept, you are living in a very hazardous conditions-MOLD IS NOT GOOD. Don't hold rent, that will just hurt YOU in the long run. edit: take pictures, you will need them
by yodie- 6 months ago
speak to the citizens advice bureau, or just skip that and take them to court, though you should write to him officially first to tell him you are "considering it" as he isn't keeping up his end of the tenancy agreement. If it were me, I would write to inform him that you are withholding rent until the problems have been fixed.
by Neil B- 6 months ago
You should contact the local Board of Health -this is a definite severe problem and a health issue. Check with the BOH and they should come to the premises as there maybe other violations in this building. They would be able to advise you as to which agency you could contact with all the problems you are having. It may take a while but well worth the wait and effort. You should, by rights be compensated for the fridge and your aggrevation!
by Betty M- 6 months ago
Withhoolding rent will only hurt you in the long run. Contact the landlord again, tell him that you are willing to get the repairs done, provide him with a receipt, and deduct this from the rent. Hopefully he will agree. If not, you may have to threaten civil action. Sometimes there are landlord/tenant ombudsman that can mitigate these problems. The mold is probably not a big deal, very, very little mold is toxic. But if you contact the health department, they may come out and test it. In the meantime, it would certainly help to document everything in case you do have to sue.
by godged- 6 months ago