Landlord help please?

I live in a decent size apartment complex. And ever since we moved in here we've had to call the office almost DAILY to have something repaired. The breakers keep tripping but they wont replace the box, the dryer stopped working three times, but they wont get us a new one, there's a hole in our window screen that they have known about for a month and still is not fixed. I went into the office and talked to them and told them all of these things needed to be taked care of as well as some others, and told them I was not paying rent until it was done. BUT!!!! they told me I still have to pay rent, with the late fee or else get evicted. Is there legally anything I can do??

I am a law student so I can offer you NO legal advice all I can do is give you my opinion it bears no legal weight whatsoever. I will have no legal consequence for anything you do with this opinion. I will not be liable for any loss, expenditure etc that you incur. If you plan to take action seek a licensed attorney.

That is a disclaimer I have to say sorry. Normally I would not reply because of it but I feel for your situation I chose to.

You might have a legal claim on implied warranty of habitability. I鈥檓 not sure what state you are in and what law they apply but most states say that the apartment must be fit for human habitation. It would be in the courts hands however, if they would find that being without electricity to the appliances that stopped working when the breaker went off made the unit uninhabitable.

If you replace anything on your own keep the receipts in some jurisdictions the court will allow you to withhold rent in the amount of the repairs that you do. Again seek an attorney鈥檚 advice.

If you are evicted there is a possibility that you would be able to claim constructive eviction. That the place was so uninhabitable that you had to leave and once the landlord makes the appropriate repairs you might be able to recover the expenses you incurred from moving out. Again seek an attorney for a valid opinion

Lastly and probably the first thing you consider doing; check your lease. There could be certain things promised to you or the availability within the lease for you to break it if they fall below a certain standard. If you want to you could point it out to them and state that the unit is below the expectation that they drafted.

Again, I am NOT an attorney. This is my opinion and everything stated within it should not be relied upon as legal advice. The only person who can give you good advice is a licensed attorney.

look at the renters rights for your state and if your state allows you to u can with hold rent until all of the repairs are made

If you get evicted you may have a very hard time finding a place to live later. If you keep fighting with them and move, they will most likely give you a bad landlord reference which may result in being denied a better place to live later.

I lived in a dump before. There was black mold growing in the walls among other things. I contacted legal aid about it, but nothing was ever fixed. I ended up moving later.

When you sign a lease to live in an apartment, it is an exchange of promises between you and your landlord. You promise to pay rent every month and he promises to keep things in repair.

Check your copy of the lease (EVERY tenant should keep a copy of their lease on hand) and check to see where your landlord has failed to apply service. If the lease states the the landlord will make repairs to things like washing machines, etc., then the landlord has a DUTY to carry out these promises and is guilty of BREACH OF CONTRACT if he does not carry them through.

Check tenant rights and public legela services to see what you can do, because THERE IS something you can do.

Get a lawyer.

Find out how to contact your city's office of central inspection. Tell them about your breakers, and your dryer. These problems may be relateed, and it might be dangerous. It is not necessarily a need for an electrical box. The box and breakers may be working fine, and the fact that they are tripping indicate you may have a problem with your electrical system. Your city probably has a department that enforces the electrical code. Sounds like you need an inspection. Get the city regulatory offices on your side and you can be the landlord will shape up.

document every thing in detail I can tell u that u can not with hold the rent they are right about that I can also tell you that with out clear and detailed documentation you are looking at losing your security deposit cuze you will not have proof that u did not do the damage and they will nickle and dime u to death so I say video tape,record your conversations and take pictures also wright down who, what, when, where, and why, dates and times

go to google, type in landlord tenant law and your state name, find the landlord/tenant law in yoru state. Then follow what the law says are your responsibilities. You cannot legally withhold rent in some states. One thing you have failed to do is to give the landlord written notice that these things need to be repaired and if they arent repaired you will one either get them repaired yourself and withhold rent or two you will go stay in a hotel on the landlords dime until they are repaired. Being of course that you state law allows such. The most crucial thing you need to do is to never "speak" to the landlord about repairs. Give it to him in writing and keep a copy for your records. Make sure you date every document and sign every document.