What Should I Do If My Landlord Refuses Repairs?

What should you do if your landlord refuses to maintain the property according to the rules of your city or state? Sue! Actually, before you jump to the courthouse, there are several things you can do - many of which are more effective and cheaper than hiring a lawyer.

First, you can pay less rent or withhold your rent until the repairs are made. You could always make the repairs yourself, either you actually repairing it or you hiring a contractor to repair it, and deduct the cost of the repairs from the rent. You could also call a local building inspector, who can order the landlord to make the repairs. Finally, you can simply terminate the lease and leave.

Ultimately, before you take any action, check with local laws to ensure that they match what has been written above. Each area has slightly different laws in terms of what a tenant can and should do, maintain compliance with that first.