Seeking Advise on Renting

Well, we have been renting for a very long time. We just could never save up enough to buy and the prices of houses just kept going up and up and up. So, here we are with the same situations that you describe. I know that in Idaho, they had 3 days after a 'written' request to address the issue, not necessarily fix it, but take some kind of action. However, you alone can never enforce any kind of law like that. You will have to get an attorney that specializes in this. If you are low-income, you should see if you qualify for free legal aid.

It is not good that you get evicted. This will go on your credit report and will not look good on a background check for future rentals. You can explain until you are blue in the face, but it won't matter to most. You will also lose your deposit. Again, the attorney is the only way to go.

Be careful about replacing things on your own. If you do, don't expect to be reimbursed at all. Legally, they do not have to and if you take it off the rent, they can take it out of your deposit or use that as a reason to evict you, again...losing credit stance and deposit.

Renting sucks! We had a windstorm here in December and had 5 trees come down...3 on the house. Luckily it did not hurt the house. We had to cut up all the trees by ourselves and pile up the debris. It has been sitting in our front and back yards ever since. The owner finally got a tiny little dumpster that took only half of the front yard debris. It is getting so frustrating! I can't even have my kids go out and play! I also do daycare and I can't let them out either. My husband just says that we tread a thin line and we just have to do our best.

I understand how frustrating it is, but I also like the freedom to up and move whenever I want (after the lease time). If something were to happen to where my husband got a job elsewhere or someone in the family got ill, we would not have to worry about selling a house. There are pluses to it, but I hate having to rely on others for things like this.

Good luck! Get a lawyer!

Also make sure to keep copies of everything!!!! Anything you give him, the rent check, request for repairs, receipts for repairs, always keep a copy for yourself. Good Luck

S.,
We are renting as well a nice place and our new landlords don't do anything half the time, but thankful my husband is in construction, but the last thing he wants to do is fix something at home. I left our landlord so many messages because our front doorknob was broken it stayed lock that we had to remove it to actually close the door. 5 days later he came out and put the silliest doorknob on that I think it goes to a closet door. Whatever! Cheap! The thing is don't get yourself evicted it will show up on your credit report when you are trying to buy or rent another place. You might want to fix the things yourself or have someone do it and attach the receipts to the rent check and deduct the amount you paid on the stuff that needed to be fixed. Keep copies of everything and also make sure you note when you called and left messages or spoke to him just in case it gets ugly. Stick it out for a couple more months then search for a new place if you decide to move. Good luck!

I know here in WA, you have to submit the requests in writing to the owner/landlord, and if it's not fixed, then you don't have to pay rent until it is...but the requests for repairs HAVE to be made in writing, and a copy kept, and proof of receipt.

I'm not sure where you live, but there are renters rights for every state, look them up online. Here's a link that might be helpful http://www.hud.gov/renting/
If you voluntarily terminate your lease be prepared to pay the penalties. If you figure out what your rights are and make sure you are follow through on your end of the obligation, like how you report the damage and how long you wait for the repair etc. and the owners are not meeting their end of the agreement you have ways to legally get out of the situation.

Hi S.!

I'm not sure what state you live in, but when I used to rent (I'm in WA), I found this link very handy: http://www.wsba.org/media/publications/pamphlets/landlord...

And if you're in Washington and decide it's time to buy, come talk to me, I'd love to help!