In Pennsylvania, my landlord died and his live-in girlfriend claims she’s now the landlord. I guess she’s going on the whole “common-law wife” bit, but when he was alive I wasn’t even allowed to give her the rent! he knew she’d spend it. Her name was and is not on anything having to do with the house, deed, bank accounts, etc. When landlord died, he was in the process of fixing some things. They still haven’t been fixed so I stopped paying rent. Legally, I wonder who owns the house? He has no family that has come to claim his property and if “possession is truly 9/10 of the law” then don’t I have a claim on the house? Also, if she sells it (to me) and her name isn’t on the deed, if a “legal” claimant comes along, can they take the house away from me? I have an appointment with a real estate attorney next week but in the mean time was curious if anyone out there had a real clue to what my rights could be. Thanks.
Thanks, you guys are giving me some really good idea and thoughts. I have no intention on just not paying rent and going on a shopping spree, but I just don’t want to pay her the money, because as I said, I don’t trust her. She claims she’s the executor of the estate, but I haven’t seen anything in writting to this affect. I think I’ll take a trip down to the Register of Wills and look this up. Until then, I’m putting the rent in escrow. Thanks everyone.

We just moved into a house on June 15th, which we’re renting. The day we moved in we started to realize that around the back door it was COVERED with black mold. Now, I’ve read up on the type of mold that it is and it’s very toxic! Everyone in my house is sick, and my landlord won’t take care of it! What should I do? We’ve already contacted the health department, and they don’t seem to take us seriously. I’m not sure whether to contact an attorney, or not. We gave this woman $1200 to move in, and we’re in the process of planning a wedding too, so we can’t afford to just up and move out until the end of August at best. What should we do until then? I have a newborn in my house, along with 2 other children! PLEASE HELP!!

I have my landlord *county agency* calling my states attorney and my public defender. The landlord is now telling me to move out in a week. I have court on Monday and I would like to know how I can get a gag order and do I have the right to get one?

In September 2006, there was an illegal activity at my old apartment and one of my guest was involved. The landlord posted a 3-day notice on my door on September 27, 2006. and on September 30, 2006, while I was away my family moved my stuff out because they didn’t fully understand the law. I spoke with the landlord re: my security deposit and she said that I should be receiving within 21 days. However, I did not receive anything, no letter. Later in December I received a letter from a collection agency requesting $210 in addition to the $1069 security deposit. I sent the landlord a letter saying that because they did not respond within 21 days they are to return my money, still they insist that they did. On the sheet it said that they charged me $700 for attorney fees. Is this valid to be charged an attorney fee with no court judgement? and it only stated on the lease, if you don’t respond to the 3 day notice and forced to go to court to be evicted. It is now 2007 can I sue?

My landlord is going to owner financing the home I am renting so I can purchase it. Their attorney has drawn up a contract. The attorney is claiming to be the escrow agent and is adding money into the monthly payment, I am guessing for an escrow fee ($11.69). Is that normal to pay an escrow fee. Should the lender/landlord pay this fee. We really don’t need one as I am paying the lender/landlord principal & interest and I am taking care of insurance and taxes myself.

I live in an apartment bldg where i have been having so many problems with the living standards here. I have been here for a year and the landlord wont come fix up my apartment i have made attempts with list letters calling over the phone and contacting a legal aid attorney, the thing is is that the landlord here is a judge and she works not for from were the legal attorney could have help me for free, but by my landlord being a judge working not for from them they wont help me, i cant afford a lawyer and to make matters worse the water has been shut off for non-payment of rent the water has been off over a week. i have a 7 year old and i’m disabled what do i do please help

I found out today that my landlord has apparently put the house I am renting up for sale. I moved in the end of February, and when I found this house and called her, she said that the house is for rent and she would be willing to work with me on the deposits. Nothing was mentioned about the house being for sale OR the house possibly selling while I was living her. Today I get home to find a car in my drive way that I did not recognize. I got asked and asked if I could help them. The mother and daughter said they where wanting to look at the house because it was for sale. I told them it wasn’t to my knowledge, and asked if they had the right address (apparently there is 2 of my addresses in my city) and promptly called my landlord that did not answer. I left a message saying hey there is a mother and daughter here to look at the house, they say it’s for sale and I was not aware of this. I talked with them for a little while longer and the left. I then went online to find out if the house was indeed for sale. I went on about 10 different sites and come to find out it is indeed for sale, and active. So I called the real estate agent that the lady was working with, and posed as a buyer. Come to find out IF the house is for sale (which it is according to her) and there is a tenant living in the house, the tenant and the landlord would have worked out an agreement for the possible sale of that house. Since my landlord never even told me that the house was up for sale I am wondering if you guys could help me figure out what to do. I have already called JAG (my hubby is in the military) and another attorney. I have attempted to call my landlord about 5x and still no answer. I know she is in violation of the lease because she has to give 24hrs notice that a some one is coming over. Unless it is an emergency she has to give notice. She didn’t and I come home to find people in my drive way wanting to look at the house. I am wondering what I can do tonight, what I should do when I actually talk to her, etc. ANY help is greatly appreciated.
THANKS

Without notice, our landlord has presented my fiance and I with a letter from her attorney stating that effective immediately, our current landlord is no longer our landlord.

I have searched through hell and high waters to find this online, and I’m at a loss. Would someone who is well-educated in legal rights please help me to determine if this is a legal move. If not, what are the correct Minnesota law procedures in changing the landlord on the lease.

By the way, the lease I have signed was from August 1, 2009 – July 31, 2010. So legally, we are obligated to the rental agreement until that time.

Thank you for any help!

I am living in an apartment complex that is constantly making racist comments and ignoring situations when I call about them or when I have questions.

Now they are saying that I owe $30.00 in a late fee, on a payment, that wasn’t late. (I have proof.)

I tried to call today and ask for a better explanation, and the property manger was rude and slammed the phone down after saying that “She should have known better than to rent to us people, she never wanted our type in those apartments.”

Similar comments have been made about a mixed family that live there and an Indian (from India) family that live there.

What type of attorney do I contact? I want out of the lease without screwing over my roommate or my credit. If I have too, I want to sue them as well for racial discrimination.

I currently live in St. Louis, MO.

Our apartments have changed management companies since we have moved in and we have basically been told good luck getting it back. Landlord told us when we turned our keys in we would get a letter for the other company’s attorney to try and get our security deposit from them. Is this correct? Is that legal?