Re: my house is falling apart - Landlord Forum thread 189621

Re: my house is falling apart by Anonymous on October 19, 2009 @11:53

If, as you say, the city has already inspected the place and it's so bad that they are "talking about making me leave and condemning the house", that is not how they work.

If the house is so uninhabitable, you would be told to move immediately. Cities do not leave children in places with mold and water and falling in walls and ceilings. That is just ridiculous.

Some of these issues, as other posters said, would have been noticeable at pre-move in inspection. You should have noticed this and refused to move in. I don't care if you have no money, why would you put your children in those conditions?

I suggest you engage a lawyer, pack up your things and move. Most of the time you cannot sue for moving costs, etc. until AFTER you have moved. The landlord does not need to compensate you in advance unless the place is condemned. Maybe that's what you are waiting for, but in that time, you are also endangering your children.

Think about it.s

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Re: my house is falling apart by teddy howard (va) on October 19, 2009 @16:39	[ Reply ]

The city came back out today, they said they are going to contact the landlord again, according to them the previous tenants had called them too. He said that they do not condemn for mold and that everything else she has 30 days to fix or they will take them to court. He said he can not go under the house to chk to see what is going on with the foundatiion but he could see the house was leaning and that could be why the floor is separating from the wall. He said that she has to replace the whole floor and walls in the room and if it is the foundation then that would be a bigger problem. What I don't get is how the people up here look down onthe low income and disabled people. Just because I don't have much financially does not mean that I'm not doodie. I do the best with what I have and try to keep a roof over my kids head. This is my very first house that I rented and I actually thought that giving her a list and her saying she is going to get on it would be enough because the issues were not as bad,but it was'nt. I've made list for her and called her 3-4 times a week since I moved in the end of june and was told she is working on it. Now if you had no family here and no where to go and if you just left you and your kids would be without a place to live what would you do? You mean to tell me you would not try to find an option where your family would not be left homeless? Think about that befor you guys start downing people because they are not as fortunate as YOU!

Re: my house is falling apart by Anonymous on October 19, 2009 @16:55

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Teddy,

You can guarantee that every landlord who posts on this site (and you should remember this is a landlord site) has been taken advantage of by tenants over the years. I have been through the wringer because of LLs lying to the city claiming mold in my house and when it was investigated, they had fabricated evidence and there was no mold. Mind you, the report made against me is still on record with the city.

We also get lots of tenants posting stories on here that don't add up, so pardon people for being skeptical.

Being that the people on this site are not slumlords, we cannot even begin to fathom how a property would be in the state you describe and still be on the rental market.

In my case, I know that there is no way on God's green earth that my city would allow you and your family to be allowed to remain in that house.

You said you get assistance with some of your bills. Can you contact the agency that helps you and ask for their advice in finding you somewhere else to live. Call the city welfare people and see if they can help.

If the property is in such dire state of disrepair, I still find it hard to believe that the city is just letting this drag on. My city would be chasing down the LL, getting you moved and stopping her from renting it to anyone else.

I suggest you contact legal aid and get help.

Re: my house is falling apart by teddy howard (va) on October 19, 2009 @17:13	[ Reply ]

I totally understand what you are saying and I wish I could email you some of the things I am describing because believe me I took pictures when I first moved in and also some recent ones to show how the little things I started with got worse. The city even took pics of the mold and all but told me today they have to give her 30 days to try to fix things even though I've been on her since I gave her the list. The city said that they don't check mold or condemn for mold, but they took pics(funny right) I called the health dept for tidewater va and they gave me an 800# that said they don't test for mold either but could tell me how to clean it(another funny thing) I can't find any agency for the tidewater area of va that inspects for mold and I don't get it at all! They said I can get it inspected myself but I don't have the funds to do so. So I don't know what else to do on the mold situation because codes and compliance said even if they replace that section of the wall again and they don't fix the roof it will defeat the purpose because it will come back.