Landlord won’t make repairs. It’s been over a year what do I do?
May 25th, 2011 | 
Author: My husband and I have been going through a rough time and it is affecting our marriage. Please help! I pay rent monthly. There are no late fees I just have to call the landlord before the 30th of the month and tell him what day I need to pay rent. Up until now this has not been a problem. However, the problem is that the landlord does not make repairs. It is up to me and my husband to sometimes pay hundreds of dollars to make the repairs to the plumbing and anything else that is needed. We cannot mail him notice to make repairs, as stipulated by law, because he and his wife refuse to give us their mailing address. We recently spent $300.00 on repairs and told him to come around the 24th of the month since we just had a new baby also and are struggling to pay bills and make repairs to keep our other kids safe. He came by this moring and was like we have to pay late fees. My husband informed him that he has not been making repairs and we have had to pay for them. The landlord said that did not matter he does not have to make repairs. My husband slammed the door in his face and told him to come on the 24th as requested. I called and his wife answered and refused to give me their mailing address. The law seems in favor of the landlord. Our plumbing was backed up for almost a month until we got the repairs made. Any advice on what we can do. Since hurricane Ike last year we were put back financially and cannot move right now. Plus I was lais off last year. This landlord is taking advantage but he is suppose to make repairs. The kitchen cabinet even fell down on one of my daughters last year. We told him about it and he said he would get it fixed but a year has passed. Please some advice. This is bad business practice. What can we do? I called an attorney who said for me to mail notice but I explained to him the landlord refuses to give an address. The attorney has not called me back. What can I do??
The landlord has been really trying my husband’s patience and stressing him and me out. Due to our financial situation we cannot move but he should not be able to do this to us. Then again all laws point in favor of the landlord not the tennant it seems. He told my husband he does not have to make repairs but we have to pay rent. What can we do?
We did not sign a lease. It was a verbal agreement. It states that no late fees will be assessed to call for the payment date and he will come out to collect rent on that date. He also stated that he will charge a late fee only if he comes out and we have not called him. I keep requesting his mailing address but he refuses. He also said he does not have to make repairs. I have all documents, quotes, receipts, and any other evidence needed. He is a slum lord.
Posted in Landlord Tenant Law
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well if it states in your contract with the landlord that he must make/pay for repairs, than you can sue him. if it doesnt, than there is nothing you can do but fork out the money or move. and try harder to contact a lawyer, there are tons of them and one not calling you back isnt important, he obviously isnt a good attorney so get a different one.
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/renters-rights/index.html
realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13108370
My advice would be to read your renters agreement very carefully. Unless it otherwise says you are responsible for repairs you should not be. These are 2 websites I read but if you search for renters right s and type in your local state you will come across more. Most attorneys offer free legal advice about that subject. Hope it helps =)
I am assuming you do not have a lease agreement, hence the reason for these problems. You can always find out the current address of your landlord. There are so many resources to do so. I imagine the house you live in is his….is it? That could be a reason why he is not telling you his real address. Maybe the house is not even his. Check the property records for the state. That’s a free search. I presume you are also paying him in cash…right?
This is really a lot to answer on the YA board. As an attorney, I have a hundred questions just on what you posted.
I suggest you get an attorney you can really talk to. Are you in Texas? You mentioned hurricane Ike, so I am assuming you are in Texas….
Get another attorney to help you. If you can’t really afford to move or can’t abide by a lease agreement, you may want to check into the ownership of this house. I have a feeling this guy who collects rent may not actually own it.
Call the attorney general’s office and ask.
First of all you need to know your rights. So look up rental laws in your state. Secondly, if you are well within your rights start saving back your rent to either fix the problems or move out. Call the landlord and notify him that your are doing this. If he asks any questions inform him that you cannot give him this in written for because he will not give you an address. If he shows up at your house have a letter written explaining what you discussed over the phone make a copy and hand him one of the letters. Then go from there. Hope this helps.
Easy, call up the housing authority in your area and file a complaint. Also, if it is things like plumbing, that is considered a health restriction code, so call up the health department and also complain. Once this guy is fined a bunch of money, he will probably start the repairs! These places will also have specialized attorneys that can help guide you better. Make sure you have proof of the repairs (receipts) and you can technically sue him in small claims court for the return of your money. But be aware he might turn around and sue you for all the late fees so count up the late fees and see the reward vs. risk in suing.
And you might want to pay your rent on timne because it is my guess he will be charging you late fees from now on…..
Hopefully you have kept all receipts regarding all repairs. What you do is TAKE them to a lawyer along with the rental agreement (there HAS to be an address on the rental agreement by law) The landlord is running a business and there has to be an address for tax purposes, otherwise he is guilty of tax evasion and fraud. The lawyer will instruct you to not pay rent unless the landlord reimburses you for the repairs and will get a court case started for either reimbursement of repairs or a refund on rent you have paid. The law states that if you pay for repairs on a rental either the landlord must reimburse you for those repairs or accept your payment of the repairs in lieu of rent. You obviously know very little about laws in the U.S. I suggest before you rent another place you do some research on rental law
save your receipts , write a list on the repairs that need attention call your local police to advice you on the situation and see if they can be present to witness that you are trying to get repairs.
Go to the local courthouse and ask to see the records on the property in which you live. You should be able to get the landlord’s address from there.
Follow him home next time he comes for the rent money.
or go to the library and look him up using the internet.
You should be planning on getting out of there as soon as possible.
Remember your situation won’t change if you don’t plan to change it.
If you have asked for repairs to be made and they are not being made, you are allowed by law to withhold the rent until repairs are complete. You must however establish an escrow fund for the rent (basically a savings account of some sort) and you cannot touch the money you put in there. You have to inform the landlord what you are doing and show him the money is being held in escrow until he makes the repairs. As long as you pay your rent into the escrow account, there is nothing he can do.
If I were you, I’d get an attorney to also write him a letter.
all you can do is call the health department on him, they have the addresses of every home owner, report it to them of the condition of the home, and they can and may fine him as well make him fix it or condemn the home.but i do think I would be looking for another home and not pay and save the money to do so. If he sends an eviction notice as he will it should have his address listed on it , and than there for you can than take him to court and make him pay you back for repairs, if you in fact have prove of receipts and I would all so take pictures,and or record the damage to that home. document any and all times you have contacted him time and date them. you would be surprised how that will take you far in a court room, good luck.