can u withhold rent if your landlord refuses to fix air conditioner and pay for pest control.?
May.15, 2011 in
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can u withhold rent if your landlord refuses to fix air conditioner and pay for pest control.?
can u withhold rent if your landlord refuses to fix air conditioner and pay for pest control.?
May 17th, 2011 at 10:35 am
yes, but you must put it in “escrow” this will prove that you have the rent and protect you when you go to court if he tries to evict you, you will also need printed proof that you told him about the problem.
I’m an employee for the State Natural Resource Conservation Service.
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May 19th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
depends on the state.
you can pay for the repairs with the lower of two estimates.
and deduct it from your rent .
make sure your paperwork is correct.
I’m an employee for the State Natural Resource Conservation Service.
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May 22nd, 2011 at 3:34 am
You should check your state laws. You can’t do that in California or Oregon. I own rental property in both states.
I’m an employee for the State Natural Resource Conservation Service.
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May 24th, 2011 at 5:34 am
You cannot withhold rent in most states. You can only do that if you go thru a legal process.
First, have you checked your lease? Sometimes pest control is the tenant’s responsibility.
Second, have you given him a written request for repairs? Do so and keep a copy for yourself.
Third, air conditioning repair isn’t considered a priority in all states.
Mail your landlord a letter saying that you have asked him to fix the AC and take care of the pest. I’d get estimates from an AC company and pest control and enclose copies. Offer to pay for the repairs and subtract from your rent.
Maybe that will prod him.
I’m an employee for the State Natural Resource Conservation Service.
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May 26th, 2011 at 2:34 am
No, you can’t. By law, these are considered a luxury, not a neccessity. Sorry, you’ll get into trouble, not the landlord.
Experienced tenant
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May 27th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Have you written and mailed a letter certified to your landloard about the problem. Keeping a copy of the letter??? You can deduct The cost using a low bid from your rent. Keep all bids for repair and all expenses. Hopfully there was a clause in your rental agreement that the landloard would cover such problems.
Experienced tenant
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