What all can i sue Landlord for?
July 7th, 2011 | 
Author: When my husband and I met our landlord, we came to the agreement that my husband would work for him and we would get his pay to pay utilities with and use trustee assistance for he rent. When we moved into the house, all repair work stopped and the Landlord refuses to pay us as well as give us a lease and receipts. The water bill is in the Landlords name, and he refused to pay it and/or to give us the necessary paperwork to get it paid. We never received a copy of the bill. I have sought out legal help, and the attorney sent him a letter requesting him to turn the water back on within 24 hours. He did not do it. I hav children and we cannot afford to move at this point due to nonpayment from the Landlord for my husbands wages. I am planning on taking him to court, but i would like to know what all i can sue him for. Can I sue him for mental distress, annoyment, and child endangerment for putting my kids at risk? We have saved every e mail to and from the landlord. We have requested time and time again that the repairs be done like the kitchen floor needs redone where the tile is peeling up and the wood is splintering and my daughter gets splinters from it her feet, the kitchen window has a gap about an inch wide where the glass ends and the frame begins, there is no duct work to my sons bedroom, we FINALLY recieved heat at the end of october, the stairredoneds redonwe due to the steps moving under our feet. We was told we would have carpet, andhappender happend. This is all had me very worried due to the fact that the home as it standcondemnede condemed and we have nowhere to go.My children could be taken from me. I needno one and noone can help us. We wanted to be able to go to a hotel, and charge the landlord the bill, but we cannot even afford that. What are my options when we go to court?
Posted in Landlord Tenant Law
It sounds like your place isnt up to code. I would get pictures done on where there isnt proper repairs done and sue for the place not being up to code. Demand that he judge order these repairs fixed for it being a safety concern. Also call a local inspector and ask him or her what you guys should do about this situation. You can also report his complex to the BBB website (better business bureau) and file a complaint.
About your husband doing work and not getting paid or benefits of the labor. If there was a paper trail agreement and he didnt stand up to that agreement you can sue for fraud. Also for financial and emotional distress.
Please check your local lawyer on this matter because each state has different laws
I am not an attorney but a landlord.You are bound by whatever contract agreement you signed. If you agreed to pay rent and have not then you have broken the contract.If he agreed to make repairs and it is in the contract then he has broken the contract. A judge will look at the rental agreement and decide from there. I would think that any money spent on an attorney would be better spent moving to a different home. Every state has different laws. If your husband is an employee of the landlord then he should sue for wages owed and maybe for that you could get legal aide to provide an attorney. It sounds like the distress you are experiencing and inability to move is because of the wages not being paid. That may be an easier case to win.
You can sue for only actual losses, not fantasy loss such as “annoyment” or “child endangerment”, by whatever is on the signed contract between you and the landlord. Verbal agreements do not matter, nor emails, only the written and signed contract.
You can not sue for the condition of the house since you saw it before you moved in and agreed that it was acceptable.
You would not sue for wages, you would report the lack of pay to your states labor board, you are going to have to show some proof that your husband was hired and reported to work.
You landlord never has to pay a hotel bill for you, however if it is uninhabitable, which is sounds like there are no problems that would make it that way you can prorate rent for the days you have to stay in a hotel. Nothing you stated here is a major issue though, however, if there is no way to get water (not paying your water bill does not count) then you can prorate all days after 24 hours since the landlord was informed.
Contact the Tenants Association in your state and turn him in. They will help you and fine him. Make him repair the things that need repaired before he can rent it again. They can be a big help.
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