Q: my nieces landlord wont make any serious repairs. he is demanding the rent. their is no rental agreement. what can she
the roof is leaking water down through the lights.only one outlet in the living room works now. she is having to stay somewhere else. he has continued to refuse to give her a rental agreement. only gave letter saying they have taken residency there so she could get the water turned on. He is demanding the full rent because their furniture is in the house while they reside elsewhere. He said he will put a tarp over the spot on the roof that is leaking and that will be good enough for her to move back in. she has a 2 year old son. he told her that she is over reacting this is not a safety issue. this is just the most major issue that he will not address
A: Your niece needs to review everything with a landlord-tenant attorney immediately. Depending upon the exact details, she likely needs to send the landlord written notice (NOT text or email) specifying the defects. After that it may depend upon what she wants to do - get out of the lease penalty free? Stay elsewhere until repairs are made, at the landlord's expense for any costs over and above her monthly rental amount? Get a reduction in her rent due until it is fixed? Simply force him to repair? She also should demand a copy of the rental agreement in writing. Best of luck.
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