Landlord is unresponsive, what to do?

Non-Running Finance/Jobs

Page 3 of 3

1 2 3

Next Last

5 years ago 02/21/2019 3:15pm EST

re: Harambe

Harambe wrote:
swishing water around that usually ends up on the floor..... wrote:
In my opinion, the biggest waste of any appliance ever invented is the dishwasher which I would NEVER put in a rental and would remove if there was one when I bought a house.
This has to be the worst take ever on this site -- wtf is the logic?

First, if you have rentals, you want the LEAST amount of things that will break. Appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators, washers, and dryers break often. Second, people are generally filthy and it takes time to clean the appliances (if they still work). It's not worth the extra rent you can charge because most people have their own appliances or they can rent them from a company that specializes in that business.

Screen doors and window screens are other items I don't provide. I can put new windows in a house and within two years, every screen is damaged or missing. Removable window screens only cost a few bucks while the cost to repair damaged screens are about double.

Lastly, I have been around here for 16 years and an opinion about dishwashers surely isn't the worst take ever on this site. I can guarantee that!!!

5 years ago 02/21/2019 4:01pm EST

re: John Utah

John Utah wrote:
Annoyed tenant wrote:
We pay $2400/mo to rent a single family home in MA. We relocated to this area due to new jobs and our old house will be sold next month. If I didn't have to start the new job right away, we would have waited to move before we sold our house and bought a new one here.
The dishwasher top rack keeps falling off so I don't trust it can handle the weight of dishes safely. The washing machine in the basement leaks a lot of water, we put towels down to soak it up when we do laundry but I'm sure it will be a mold issue if not addressed. We even have our own washer which we offered to use if the landlord wanted to remove the old one. They said they would have to hire a plumber to hook it up for liability reasons. Lastly, the built-in microwave doesn't work and gives an awful burning smell whenever used. We have our own microwave but the extra counter space would be nice.
It's been over a month since I told both landlords (husband and wife) and now they don't even respond to texts or calls anymore. If I owned this home I would have called a handy man to do these things and be done. Heck, one months rent would more than pay for a brand new washer, dishwasher and microwave.
What should we do? Not pay rent until they fix it? The lease states there's a $50 late fee. Buy a home and move out without telling them? I guess they could sue us for the remainder of year's rent and our credit would be trashed? The lease doesn't end until Dec 31 but we are in a position to buy as soon as our house closes.
Get stuff fixed and take it out of the rent. Send the paid invoices along with the short rent check. Tell them in writing you are doing this before you do it.

Yea, this is the correct answer. Send them an email with a form stating you will get the stuff fixed on your own and deduct the costs from the rent. That will be your proof. Give them a few days to respond. Send them a text saying you emailed them a form stating you will get the stuff fixed and deduct the costs. They'll probably respond to you at that point.

5 years ago 02/22/2019 7:28am EST

re: Gravy

Gravy wrote:
tl;dr
Call 911 and start CPR stat!

HA HA! you beat me to it!

5 years ago 02/22/2019 7:44am EST

re: John Utah

John Utah wrote:
Harambe wrote:
Withholding or deducting from rent is probably state or even city specific. I wouldn't recommend doing any of that without being sure it's legal.
There's definitely nothing wrong with talking to a tenant/landlord lawyer to get some applicable advice for an hour. Costs less than having a pissed off landlord who likely knows the law better than you.
In most states you are allowed to do this for basic stuff like plumbing, heating, etc.

No you aren't. Its definitely not legal to short a landlord on a lease you agreed to. If op does this he'll get charged the remainder of the rent plus a late fee. In addition, op could see his credit degraded.

OP needs to talk to a lawyer about how to get his place fixed, not a clown like you.

3 years ago 07/15/2020 10:07am EDT

re: Annoyed tenant

I had to deal with similar issues in the past. I had to speak to an attorney to get a piece of advice and to know how to proceed further. To all the people in the same situation, I recommend the same because there are landlords that think once they rented their house, all the responsibilities go to the tenant. I'll live a link with a great article about triple net lease below, for those who want to more know about that. But, well, don't leave this like that, because it's not your responsibility. https://findigits.com/triple-net-lease

3 years ago 07/15/2020 10:51am EDT

re: JamieRond0

JamieRond0 wrote:
I had to deal with similar issues in the past. I had to speak to an attorney to get a piece of advice and to know how to proceed further. To all the people in the same situation, I recommend the same because there are landlords that think once they rented their house, all the responsibilities go to the tenant. I'll live a link with a great article about triple net lease below, for those who want to more know about that. But, well, don't leave this like that, because it's not your responsibility.
https://findigits.com/triple-net-lease

The responsibilities for maintenance are contained in the lease agreement and I've seen many that allow for the tenant, after notice to the landlord and a certain period of time, to deduct the cost from the rent. It doesn't matter what the landlord thinks. A triple net lease in residential is rare and it means the tenant would be responsible for all maintenance. Obviously, it wouldn't be fair for them to spend thousands for a new AC under a 1-year lease.

#47

This post was removed.

2 years ago 06/16/2021 12:16pm EDT

re: Annoyed tenant

These crook landlords will ignore problems or BS you, like saying they'll fix something but they won't. They only way to hit back at them is through rent because that's all they want. Their act of ignorance and games will end as soon as you threaten to not pay or in fact withhold paying rent. Then they'll contact you right away as soon as that happens. If you're not direct and stringent with them, they'll take whatever they can get away with. The squeaky wheel gets the attention. Make yourself and intentions known and a priority.

Page 3 of 3

1 2 3

Next Last

Reply Replying to

Username

Password

Leave the password field blank to post anonymously.

Post Preview

By posting you acknowledge that you have read and abide by our Terms and Conditions.

Remember me on this device.

Landlord is unresponsive, what to do?

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

You have been subscribed.

Landlord is unresponsive, what to do?

Follow sbeefyk2

Block sbeefyk2

Follow Wolf's Bane

Block Wolf's Bane

Follow JamieRond0

Block JamieRond0

Follow SDSU Aztec

Block SDSU Aztec

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

Reply Replying to

You have been subscribed.