Re: Maintenance/Withholding Rent - Landlord Forum thread

Re: Maintenance/Withholding Rent by Jake on December 27, 2011 @23:36

Are the maintenance problems rendering your condo uninhabitable? If not, withholding rent will swiftly result in an eviction being filed. Buy a flapper at Walmart and put it in. It requires no tools and takes less than 5 minutes. It is the middle of Winter. How big of an issue is the torn screen?

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Re: Maintenance/Withholding Rent by Abbie (Florida) on December 27, 2011 @23:54	[ Reply ]

The leaking faucets and running toilet are increasing my water bill, the non-working garbage disposal is spewing water all over under the sink and is unusable, the torn screen allows bugs to enter my home - in the winter in Florida we keep our doors and windows open when its cooler out, the broken window clasp prevents me from shutting the window completely so when I run the air or heat it's $$ out the window. I rent so that I don't have to do my own maintenance. I'm a single woman who doesn't know how to do these things, nor should I have to, especially at my expense. I work 60+ hors per week and don't have time to mess with this stuff. I told her if she doesn't do the repairs I will either withhold rent or hire someone to do the work and deduct the cost from next month's rent. I just want to do this legally, not looking for jabs from people. Thanx!

Re: Maintenance/Withholding Rent by Anonymous on December 28, 2011 @00:45	[ Reply ]

Please, Abbie, do NOT pull that "I'm a single woman, I don't know how, I work long hours" cr@p! Yes, your LL should take care of a lot of things, but do NOT be so darned helpless! We women are no longer damsels in distress, shrinking violets, or helpless! We ALL work hard, both men and women alike. Consider being a bit more independent than relying on the waiting game for the LL to rescue you. Replacing a flap in the toilet tank is easy, inexpensive and the product comes with instructions and pictures too. Leaking faucets probably just need a (cheap to buy) washer. Yes, the LL should address this but if she isn't doing so, DIY. If you're working 60+ hours, the cost of these is cheaper than peanuts! How about instead of getting into BIG trouble by withholding the rent, you ask the LL if you can reduce the cost of the rent by the cost of the items you will buy so you can fix the toilet and leaking faucets--and then provide a monetary limit so the LL knows you're not going to be reducing the rent by $50 or some outrageous sum, and you'll have to give the receipts to the LL too, AND you'll need the LLs permission in writing. You choose to keep your doors and windows open when it's cooler. You may also choose to keep them closed. It's just one broken window clasp, so open the other ones until this one is fixed, or until you DIY.

Re: Maintenance/Withholding Rent by Eric (MN) on December 28, 2011 @11:44	[ Reply ]

She should hire a plumber and a handyman, and save the receipts. Deduct the cost of the repairs from the rent. It's probably closer to $200, than $50.