What are a tenants rights if the landlord refuses to maintain the property?
If a landlord doesn’t meet his or her legal responsibilities, a tenant usually has several options, depending on the state. These options include: paying less rent withholding the entire rent until the problem is fixed making necessary repairs hiring someone to make necessary repairs and deducting the cost from the next month’s rent calling the local building inspector, who can usually order the landlord to make repairs, or moving out, even in the middle of a lease. A tenant can also sue the landlord for a partial refund of past rent, and in some circumstances can sue for the discomfort, annoyance and emotional distress caused by the substandard conditions. Tenants should check state and local laws and understand remedies available before taking any action such as withholding rent.
