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Cross post I put up on r/legaladvice Maybe this is a better place for it..

So...

I live in Brooklyn, my elevator has been out of service and has been being replaced for the past 14 weeks. No idea when they will finish.. It started in July .. on July 31st I called and spoke directly to the landlord and I asked for a rent reduction because I live on the top floor of a massive building and feel like some reduction in my rent is in order. He quickly said "OK, hold onto your rent for now and call back next week - I have to talk to the city.." So.. OVER THE PHONE he told me not to send in my rent and to call back in a week... It's now been 2.5 months. I called 2-3x per week - every week since. I have left multiple voicemails on his phone politely explaining the situation every time. I have an email address for him so I also emailed him over a dozen times. Towards the end of September I got frustrated.. and I wrote a letter explaining the whole situation - I made a list of all the dates I called and emailed him - I had the letter notarized (not sure what that's worth.. at least it proves I wrote it) and then had it sent via Certified mail to make sure somehow had to sign for it - I included 2 checks in it for 50% of what I owed because another tenant told me he had received 50% off a few months back when the elevator first broke for a week or so.. I assumed because I live on the top floor and have not had an elevator for months that it only seemed appropriate. And I also assumed if they wanted to negotiate they would just contact me and we could finally resolve this...They mailed back my 2 checks today and I am assuming they will mail back the third one I just sent for 50% off..

I have googled my landlords name as well as the business address he has and have discovered he has well over 30 different LLCs abd possibly many many more (I didn't see the one he owns my building under) I also discovered that he has been put on NYC worst landlord lists multiple times.

MY MAIN CONCERN - I have not officially paid my rent for the past 3 months - I have no problem paying for it, I have the money! However I was told I would get a reduction - The landlord told me he would give it to me... BUT I have no proof of this!

Is it possible I will get an eviction notice? (I am going on a 2 week vacation soon and am terrified I will come home to find my apartment ransacked with an eviction notice I missed!)

Is there any legal protection I can take?

What can I do?

Should I just mail in what I owe!? I definitely do not want to just give up at this point.. it's become a thing of principle. Also I feel vindicated by discovering what a terrible person he seems to be.

My rent went up this year almost $300.. I was told I would get a preferential rate for my lease renewal but after almost 2 months trying to get him to send a rider for the lease I gave up and signed it for renewal because I didn't want to move and he left me no choice.... NOW I am stuck with this debacle and fear I will get evicted or this will hurt my credit somehow.. Please help!

Not sure if this is the best place to post this, but I am having issues with my ex-landlord. I live in WA state. Sorry if this is long?

I moved out of my old apartment on June 12th. No issues. Lease was up June 28th. I got my move out statement from my ex-landlord, and he is demanding I pay to replace the carpets. I have asked for documentation, like receipts and pictures, and the likes of that, for the past almost 2 months and the documentation he has supplied has either been incorrect, or not what I have asked for (i.e. pictures of the carpets, and he sends me pictures of behind the fridge) He is charging over $2,000 to replace carpets for about 550 sqft. He gave me the original receipt for the carpets which would make them about 9 years old, and then went on to state the carpets were 17 years old, and had 20 years of life, and then said the carpets were actually 9 years old. My biggest problem, is that he broke the lease, and allowed a new tenant to move in on the 16th of June, and did not include that in the move out receipt as well had no intention of prorating the rent. He says the new tenant moved in on the 20th, and he had quote for the new carpets done on the 20th as well. He sent me a new statement and explanation this week, and stated he has not yet replaced the carpets, and hasn't even treated the carpets or done anything besides a basic cleaning between tenants. He stated he is replacing the carpets while the new tenant is in the unit in August. He can't provide proof that I damaged the carpets (I have pictures of the carpets, they were fine, free from stains and other damage) and now the new tenant has had the opportunity to damage the carpets. Basically what it comes down to is that I don't think he can charge me for any maintenance, or repairs, etc. that happen after a new lease is effect? Should I take this to small claims court instead of continuing to try and settle this?

Any help or advice is appreciated. I am at my wits end with this guy.

I'll try to keep it short and to the point: My gf and I moved into a house for rent about 7 months ago- 1BD, 1BA, nice backyard, Central Coast area of CA. Security deposit was $2500.

The property itself is ok- kind of dumpy, warped doorways, poorly in insulated. Whatever. The main issue was that we had an upstairs neighbor in a small studio unit who was a real hassle. He is on disability and accepts housing assistance (formerly Section 8). No biggie there, except he is an alcoholic who CONSTANTLY had 'friends' over. These friends were often buddies from the street corner who would come over and stay the night in our neighbor's small, upstairs studio unit. They were loud, played music loudly and generally made us feel unsafe due to the fact that random homeless people would be coming and going a lot. I'm sure there is other drug use going on.

This escalated over a few months and calls to our Landlord/Property Manger accomplished nothing. After dodging our calls, they eventually admitted that he was a problem but that eviction or other punitive measures were tough to carry out b/c he's on Housing Assistance, a veteran, etc. Not encouraging, but what are you gonna do?

It got bad enough that when 5 months had passed on our 6 month lease, we told them we would not be renewing and we found a new place and got out of there. We patched holes, hired cleaners and I took pictures with my DLSR. I even offered them the pictures, but they declined.

Just now I got our security deposit back and was very dismayed to find they had deducted $560 out for "fixing holes, cracks and repainting... illegible receipt" "repainting all enameled areas" and "repainting trim".

Now, I'll admit that we did not leave the place in immaculate condition, but holes were patched, the place was clean, carpet was great (we have a small dog too). I have pictures to prove it. I cant even read some of the contractor's receipt and it's not itemized anyways- just lists those three things and says $560 at the bottom. I cant help but feel we're being retaliated against for causing a stink and moving out due to their poor management.

Online reviews of this Management company are not kind so I'm not expecting much, but I'm pretty pissed about this. I think somewhere around $300 is fair, but not nearly double that. Do I have any chance of recovering a portion of that deposit or is it simply not worth it to squeeze a couple hundred out of these slumlords? Thanks for your advice!

I have an issue with a landlord, well actually a subtenant acting as a landlord is the problem. I am so anxious over all this and would be grateful for a few more sets of eyes. Please and Thank you.

My girlfriend and I entered into a 6 month lease on October 14th, 2016, renting a room and sharing the rest of the house with 2 other tenants. Move in was $600 plus $400 security. We asked to pay the deposit off over the course of the following weeks, and this was agreed upon. The tenants are the landlords adult children. The landlord, not wanting to deal with such things, made TENANT 1 in charge of writing up the lease and handling all payments. This has been fine until now.

The simplest way to break this down is that it came to our attention we were made to pay for the entire month of October, with only having lived in the apartment for 17 days of October.

We had agreed that the security deposit of $400 would not be paid up front, but over the course of the next weeks in addition to rent. On October 14th we moved in and paid $600 for what was supposed to be the first month's rent. We were then asked for another $600 in the beginning of November, as the rent is due the 1st of the month according to the lease. Tenant 1 and my girlfriend made a verbal agreement that for the month of November the rent could be paid on the 14th, as that would be one month of living in the apartment. This payment was made on November 11th. It was also agreed that there would be another payment of $600 on December 1st to put everyone in line with paying at the start of the month. These payments would mean that we have paid for nearly half a month that we did not live here. Malika and I agreed that the surplus in money (for the half a month paid without having lived here) would be considered half the security deposit that needed to be paid. Here is the mathematical breakdown: 31 days in october 600/31 = $19.35 a day October 14 to 31 is 17 days $19.35x17 days = $329.03 $600-$329.03 = $270.97 (surplus from the rent for the remainder of the month of October that we were not in the apartment) $400-$270.97 = $129.03 (what we actually still owe for the security deposit)

In reality, we have already paid more than half of the security deposit.

As of dec. 7th, 2016, we owe apx. $129.03 for the remainder of the deposit, and on January 1st, we will owe $600.00 for January rent.

The problem is, after explaining this to her over 4 times now, she is belligerent and is demanding we give her $400 or literally MOVE OUT. I attempted to explain it to the Father, the actual landlord, but he said it was all up to TENANT 1.

Can someone please tell me if there is a flaw in my logic please?

I am a tenant of an apartment undergoing a kitchen renovation. My flatmates and I were warned of the renovation 4 days in advance. We never requested a fix and in fact quite object to the timing of the renovation, as we cannot eat in our apartment. Added to which we are college students who will be gone from the apartment over winter break (two month period which they could have used). Is there any viable case against our landlord with these details presented? Let me remind you that we are actively living in the apartment during the 'construction'.

I don't know if this is the right sub for this. I make about 12,000 a year. For a family of 3. We do get about 350ish a month in food stamps. My husband and my kid get medicaid. We do not get any sort of housing assistance, but our electricity, heat, water, sewer and garbage are paid. We pay 675 a month in rent. I am disabled, which means I qualify for medicare, I do not have medicare because we do not have the $100 a month premium. Because I qualify I have I can not get medicaid. So I am disabled but I don't get insurance based on my income but my husband and child who are not disabled do get insurance based on our income.

So that is the background.

We live in what is technically an illegal apartment. The lady that rents it to us insists she told us that. But she gave us a lease (in writing). The problem is, it is a basement apartment, and the windows are not big enough to be considered exits. There is only one exit.

Now the problem, she is a hoarder. She can not apparently fit her fridge in her house. So it is sitting on the back porch. Not the problem. All her other food is also on the back porch .. .which is then entrance to my apartment. And now a rat.

A rat just ran into my living room then turned around and ran back out the door .. but it was a rat. He will come back in.

I can not "just move" that will cost a couple thousand with deposits.

What the hell do I do? Update: I finally got ahold of her. I told her about the RAT problem. She said I could go throw away any food of hers on the porch that was not in rat proof containers. She then got angry that I was insisting this was a problem. She hung up on me. My husband and kid insisted that I not do her work... they did put out rat traps.

Asking for a friend: He has found a home to purchase and intends to do so regardless due to the issues he has had with the rental. He signed a 1 year contract and hasn't had any luck with the landlord getting this issue fixed. Lease is up end of January and he has already paid through September. I can share the contract if need be, but it really doesn't clarify early termination requirements on either part. Here is an album of the water issue. http://imgur.com/a/JEn8N He had issues with the landlord shortly after starting the lease. The landlord was pressuring my friend to use them as their realtor to purchase a property and was trying to get people in to see the property they were renting while they were still getting settled. I'd love any advice or insight I can pass on.

Hi! I'm an international student from Spain and I really need your help. I moved in into a property in North Park 3 months ago, I just moved into the first place I found so I was really in a rush. The landlord made me sign a bunch of paperwork, one was a mold addendum saying that I'll be responsible if mold grows. At that time I didn't even thing that would be an issue so I'm a pretty clean person and I never had such problems.. He kept those papers and never sent back a copy. Well, the day I moved in everything was dirty, food in the fridge and hair of the past tenant everywhere.. he promised me he had cleaned twice and he argued me for telling that.. Also I started feeling some disgusting odors coming from the sink of the kitchen and closets.. he told me that was normal and I just needed to put some bleach into the sinks. Well I did every week, and two months later the odors are still here and more intense. There is a lot of black brownish spots growing from the ceilings and closets and it grow mold in my clothes and shoes!! The ceiling of the bathroom is all day wet (I went out for1week vacation and when I came back it was still wet..). I wrote emails and called my landlord asking for the missing paperwork, showcasing the situation with pictures and asking him to solve all the issues or let me move out. He just ignores me. I have a year lease and I really want to finish with that nightmare.. the odors don't let me study so I mostly work at home. Also the outside shared areas are in really bad shape.. no maintenance at all, he NEVER showed up here. I don't know if I'm protected by any law having signed that addendum or what I can do. I read that I can sue him and ask for compensation.. but I don't have money for lawyers and I'm scared that something can go wrong... If anybody can help me and orient me a little bit about how to act against this situation... I'd really really appreciate it. Thank you so much.

Hi my name is Esther. I've been trying to get justice over here and i can't because I can't afford a lawyer or a public defender.My landlord is stealing electricity from 3 tenants that i know of. HUD is aware of this for the past 8 years and did nothing.So i tried to take them to court to repair the wiring,but it got dismissed, So in Retaliation they filed court papers on me and evicted me, But before i left, i did a video of how they never fix the problem. I've been posting that video everywhere.Whats really sad is that i got State Officials looking into the problem and they seem like they don't want to help me.Trying to get a law passed thru the House of Representative, saying that its against the Law to steal any public utilities. Please help with some advice because i'm so done advocating for myself when i go to court.

This will be long. I apologize in advanced if it is... I am 25, my gf is 31. We live in a 4 bedroom house in Redding, CA with our live-in LL (LL stands for LandLord) and a male rommate (37). Here's what's going on: =============================================Me and my GF started renting a room together 2 yrs ago out of our live-in LandLords house. When I moved in I was working outside of the home. BUT, About a year ago I lost my job and started to telecommute (working from home) for work, freelancing and doing side jobs. During my free time I'd watch TV and soon the LandLord began complaining to my GF and saying that I "watch too much TV" and he started charging us for cable/internet service. During this time I also noticed he started making all sorts of comments about me being home, to our other roommate (M/37), such as "Why doesnt ToshLegend ever leave the house?" and "Why is ToshLegend home so much?" He could have asked me directly but he preffers to write passive aggressive notes or make comments to other people than to speak to me directly. Dont know why because while I might be short or quiet with him I am certainly not mean or aggressive. Anyways, we always payed our rent on time so I didnt understand why he was doing all this.============================================= Then he started getting more and more uptight on utilities and raising rent. ===============================================We noticed this all started happening after the male roommate moved in. We think he has somehow manipulated the landlord into doing these things. ==============================================Anyways, I started noticing the landlord is ALWAYS SITTING ON THE LIVINGROOM COUCH, which is in the center of the home, next to the living room, main entrance, bathroom and basically everything. When I am in the kitchen he acts as if he is annoyed and digusted by my existance. He once told me that he doesnt like when tenants sit with him and hang out YET he refuses to leave the livingroom area so that none of us ever get to watch television in the living room and we RARELY get to cook because he is ALWAYS COOKING. He said we had full access to the home and full run of the place but we cant even watch tv in the living room. he has even made angry comments about how angry he was when the other roommate turned on the tv in the living room and watched it because he said he doesnt like "anyone using his TV". WTF? I feel he is being inconsiderate by saying WE CAN use the common areas and hang out but not allowing anyone to actually use any of these items and having an attitude when we do use these items. What can be done legally? Should I bring up the lease and point out the clause that says we have full access to the home and full house priviliges? I am not asking to use his tv or anything like that. Just want to be able to cook my meals in peace since he says he doesnt like when anyone is in his space

Not sure if I'll get any feedback on this sub but thought I'd give it a shot. I moved into an apartment a few months ago, it's pretty run down but they are slowly renovating the whole complex. Since moving in maintenance has been a disaster, there was flooding and pretty much every appliance in our kitchen was broken/ needed to be replaced when we moved in. The manager is impossible to contact and brushes us off whenever we try to bring up the maintenance issues. We have also been dealing with roach infestation that is a problem throughout the complex. Basically this place is not what we expected, are there any grounds here for breaking the lease? We live in austin tx.

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