How can I get my landlord to get the lights in our parking lot fixed?

I have been trying for over 2 months to get our landlord to get the lights in our parking lot of our business turned on. I have left messages on his voice mail, sent letters to his address but no response. His address is a PO box. I am losing customers because it is so dark and the customers are uncomfortable coming. Do I have any legal rights?

It is his responsibility to maintain the property. Send him a letter requesting the lights be fixed, via certified mail, and request a return receipt, for proof that he received the letter! Give him 2 weeks from the date of receipt to respond to you. If you receive no response from him, you have two options, you can withhold rent, or have the lights fixed yourself, and deduct the cost from the next month's rent. If you choose to have the lights fixed yourself, be sure to get an itemized receipt for the repairs.

Good luck! Glad I can at least help you get the ball rolling! Report It

You have the right to fix it yourself then withhold the cost of the repairs from the rent. I'd warn him that you intend to do so before you do it, however.

He may have a legal requirement to furnish this lighting. Check with the Code Enforcement people in your jurisdiction. If he is required to furnish the lighting and is not doing so, they will make sure it is done, or feel free to contact your elected officials. That is why you pay taxes.

Many times, outside lights like those are operated under separate contract with the local power company. If he has not been paying them, there may be more of a problem.

You definitley have legal rights. Every state and province has a retail tenants association that has been established to protect tenants from questionable landlords.

Threaten (in both a letter and by phone) to call the retain tenants association if he does not fix the lights immeadiately. I did that with my landlord a few years ago and had a rapid, positive response.

see http://www.retailtenants.org for more info!

no the lights are probably the cities most parking lights are get the number off of the lights and call the city office and report them