Can i break my 1 year lease if.....?

@Calli550 (189)
United States
November 29, 2006 12:35am CST
i moved into my duplex two months ago and gave two months rent upfront and the 400 dollar deposit....the place is old but i wasnt aware of some things until i moved in. there was a crazy beetle/roach thing goin on. and my landlord eventually sent pest pple but they took awhile and i was really unhappy, there are a lot of little things wrong too... 1. my bathtub constantly drips water 2. my gas stove doesnt have an appropriate plug and i have to use an extension cord across my sink to use it (not safe) 3. the wondows are so old that there are a lot of drafts in them. at first only half the windows had storm windows, and i thought that was the problem, he put storm windows in them all, but it was still bad. everyday my windows are soaked in water condensation, and i mean SOAKED, its weird...using my heat is useless, and becoming expensive, but its realllly cold 4. arent bathroom doors supposed to have locks? 5. he kinda uses my basement as storage for himself, i have a washer and dryer to put down there and he just moved his horribly old and rusted, wuldnt touch them if my life depended on it, washer and dryer to the side. its a small basement since its a duplex... do i have the means to break my lease and recollect my deposit? how do i do it legally? whats the process? and my mom said something about the housing authority? clal them and see there take on the situation? help please thank you -Calli
6 responses
@rohit55_56 (2297)
• India
29 Nov 06
thanks for ......this......
@Calli550 (189)
• United States
29 Nov 06
no, thank you....for letting yourself be the first person i report for abuse.... what made u think u were special enough to steal points this way?
@Grrrwork (308)
• United States
1 Dec 06
Sounds like a scumlord. I suggest asking them to come in and fix these problems and if they refuse then call the health department on them and they will be fined and if they still dont fix the problems then youd probably have to take them to court in order to break the lease, you will need proof of all the problems, so get a camera that shows month/date on it and take as many photos as you can of all problems.
• Bangladesh
29 Nov 06
i think yes.
@baysmummy (1637)
• Australia
1 Dec 06
I am in australia, but yes i am pretty sure you can break your lease BUT i would kiss goodbye your $400 deposit because you are breaking a lease i will pretty confident he will keep all that just to cover the lose of rent until he gets someone else in! Have you sat down and spoken to him, that might be the best thing let him know your not happy and if he wants you to stay then he needs to do a few things, I have found this so common in america landlords renting out places that are barely liveable! Best of luck! oh and no bathroom doors dont have to have locks
@Jestin (560)
• Philippines
1 Dec 06
House - House with a contract
Did you sign a contract with your landlord? There usually are terms in the contract about house repairs like you should take care of minor house repairs but if the cost would be%50 and above then the landlord has to shoulder it. If you didn't sign anything with him, then you surely can break the lease. If he doesn't give you back your deposit, then you can go probably go to a small claims court or the housing department to settle the problem.
• Australia
29 Nov 06
Hello, You would have to go to a special place that involes rental and lease agreements in Aus its could the tribunal and you need to take photos of the state of the place to prove its un liveable