Dayton, OH asked in Landlord - Tenant for Ohio

Q: Can I sue my negligent landlord if I found he breached the lease, even though he no longer owns the house?

My landlord gave us a house that had dirty carpets, dirty walls, drywall damage etc. Additionally, he would not fix appliances for months. Recently, when reading my lease, I found out that my landlord was in breach. From the time we moved in until about a year ago, the landlord had not paid HOA fees. I found out when the house went on a Lean. The landlord paid the fees then. The landlord has since sold the house. Can I still sue him for breach of contract to get partial rent back?

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1 Lawyer Answer

A: If the landlord was the one who was in breach, then yes, the landlord is liable until the house was sold, at which point the new landlord is liable. The question is, what are you trying to do? Do you want the house fixed? Do you still live there? There are many questions, but from your hypothetical, it sounds like you should consult with an attorney. This is not legal advice, but if I can help, please let me know.

Thank you,

Hunter

Nicholas P. Weiss agrees with this answer

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