Renters Question (legal & financial)

[KCChiefsMan]

ok I have been thinking about this for quite some time, I have not consulted with a lawyer yet. I want to move out of the house I have been living in for the past 5 years (this is my 6th year of living here). There are many things wrong with this house, it's not an apartment of duplex, it's a 3 bedroom house with a large unfinished basement and 1 car gargage.

Me and my roommate who has also lived here for same amount of time as me, are worried that we may be obligated to pay for all of the things that are wrong with the place. The carpet is bad, the garage door doesn't work, the back patio is kinda broken (but it was like that when we moved in), the plumbing is bad, a lot of leaks that go down into the basement. The paint job on the exterior is bad. If I owned the house this never would have happened because I would have had all that done myself, but I don't want to pay for major jobs on a house I do not own.

We're just worried that all of the wear and tear over the past 6 years may come back to haunt us. The landlord hasn't done anything at all, I wish we haven't lived here this long. I replaced the washer & dryer that broke down a couple of years ago because the landlord wouldn't, and the washer & dryer that we moved into were probably made in the 1980's. The landlord is kind of a douche, and we are worried that he may try to charge us thousands of dollars when we move out in August.

Does anybody have any experience with this? is there some wear and tear clause that would prevent us from being obligated for most of the major things that are wrong? I imagine that we will lose our security deposit of $900 which is fine, and I wouldn't mind paying a little bit, but not for major repairs that really aren't our fault. Like I said, I think it would have been stupid on our part to fix up the house that we don't own.

any advice would be great

[wutamess]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

Bob Dole would give 30 days notice and let the no-maintenance bastard take that month's $500 rent payment off of the $900 security deposit and dare him to take Bob Dole to court.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

Bob Dole would give 30 days notice and let the no-maintenance bastard take that month's $500 rent payment off of the $900 security deposit and dare him to take Bob Dole to court.

That's where these landlords have an advantage, most renters are young and not as wise as Bob Dole.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by trndobrd

! People are trying to make a living here!

I hope you're kidding...

[Chiefs Express]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

That's where these landlords have an advantage, most renters are young and not as wise as Bob Dole.

Are you calling Bob Dole old? I know the original is, but what about this imposter?

[bkkcoh]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Express

Are you calling Bob Dole old? I know the original is, but what about this imposter?

if the shoe fits.....

but there are a few of us that are getting close to that category

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Express

Are you calling Bob Dole old? I know the original is, but what about this imposter?

Yes I am, and I wouldn't recommend calling him an imposter. He has powers beyond your comprehension, like adding extra letters to your screenname.

[Inspector]

Kind of sounds like the landlord didn't live up to his side of the lease, assuming that the lease had some sort of wording about the place being maintained or suitable for living.

I had an apartment back in the early 70's that had a problem with the shower head. I reported it - nothing happened. First of the month came and I wrote out the rent check and put it in the desk drawer. A couple of weeks later the landlord left me a note on the door asking about the rent check. I went to his office, pulled the check out of my pocket and told him, "here it is", and as he reached for it, I quickly folded it in half and put it back in my pocket.

I then explained to him that I reported a problem with the shower and it was ignored. He was not fullfilling his responsibilities according to our lease.

That afternoon my shower was fixed and the rent got paid.

You might consider making the landlord fix everything that's within his responsibility to take care of. Then when you move, those things won't be broke.

[KCChiefsMan]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

Bob Dole would give 30 days notice and let the no-maintenance bastard take that month's $500 rent payment off of the $900 security deposit and dare him to take Bob Dole to court.

it's $900 per month, hence the $900 security deposit

[bringbackmarty]

Do not pay your last months rent until you and he have a conversation about the washer and dryer. If he isn't willing to:
Give you a full deposit refund, and buy your washer and dryer, than do not pay the last months rent, and take the w\d with you. I have never not gotten a deposit back. Due to the fact that I bring it up early, (at least a month or two before I move) and will not sign a lease unless the deposit is held in escrow. The only guy who tried to screw me, got no last month's rent instead. As well as a nasty letter. Most evictions take 60 days at least, so holding the rent check until you get your deposit check is a good option if you suspect being screwed.