A landlord is responsible for maintaining a rental unit in a habitable condition. If there are safety or health issues that are violating the warranty of habitability, you have a right to contact a local agency concerning the issue. If your landlord hasn’t been maintaining your rental, here’s what you should do.
Recognize the Violations
Before making a complaint, recognize the repair that the landlord needs to make and the housing code under which it’s listed.
Bear in mind that different states have varying housing code standards. For instance, landlords in the District of Columbia must ensure that rentals are free of rats, mice, and insects. Moreover, water temperature should reach at least 120 degrees in the bathroom or kitchen and paint can’t be flaking or peeling.
On the other hand, Massachusetts requires floors to be waterproof and smooth. Sinks should be huge enough to wash dishes and get cold and hot water. Moreover, landlords have to sustain heating equipment to heat rooms to at least 64 degrees at night and 68 degrees during the day. Once you recognize the breaches, record those violations and take photos to use as proof later on.
Inform the Landlord
Next, issue a written request to the landlord, rental office, or resident manager. Maintain a copy of all correspondence that takes place between you and the landlord. Record the date in which you made the request, when the property owner responded or didn’t respond, the repairs that took place, and when the repairs took place.
Request Housing Inspection
In the event that you don’t obtain any response from the property owner, contact the local authority that handles housing regulations. When requesting a housing inspection, integrate all the evidence and documentation you’ve accumulated.
You should obtain a response within approximately 30 days from most states’ authorities. If everything fails and he still declines to make repairs, consult an experienced landlord-tenant lawyer.
Reporting Violations
Before you start pursuing a court case against your landlord, you must first inform the property owner of the issue. You should submit the complaints in writing. They’ll typically have a specified number of days to address the issue depending on your residential area.
If you’ve requested them to fix the issues in your rental repeatedly to no avail and submitted a written request, it’s time you contacted the city. Begin by collecting as much information as possible on the kinds of violations you see taking place and the rate at which they occur.
When communicating with the health department, you must indicate whether the perceived violations prevented you from inhabiting the rental or caused bodily harm.
It’s also important you indicate the time, date, and subject of any conversation between you and the property owner or other tenants that are experiencing similar problems. The notes will be adequate to demonstrate why you had to inform the city of the violations.
Common Kinds of Violations
Pests
If you’re seeing any indications of a rat, bed bug, or other infestation, it’s grounds for contacting the city.
Mold
Mold can cause disease or trigger serious allergic reactions if present in a rental space. Therefore, your landlord has an obligation to schedule professional cleaning to eliminate any mold or mildew.
Final Thoughts
Your landlord should maintain a rental unit in a habitable condition, so if there are any safety or health issues, this guide reveals the measures to take.
For more information on what to do if your rental is affecting your health, contact us at Apartment Agents or leave a comment.