Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

No heat and faulty electrical wiring

I have notified the owner of the building I live in that I have no heat in my apt. and that the electrical wiring is faulty and is not up to city code bye sending return receipt requested 3 different times. The Health Dept. has cited him on 2 different occasions about the heater and the cities' code enforcement has also cited him for having deteriorated and obsolete electrical service in the building. He has not fixed any of these problems and has raised the rent twice for a total of $ 315.00. Can he legally do this He seems to ignore what the city says he has to do .My self and most of the other tenants here are tired of paying rent for apts. that have no heat leaking roofs with mold problems and nothing being done to corect the problems is there any thing that we can do to make this scum slum lord make the repairs to make the units habitable Moving is not an option right at the moment


Asked on 12/10/07, 1:25 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert L. Bennett Law offices of Robert L. Bennett

Re: No heat and faulty electrical wiring

There are several options available: (1) repair and deduct; (2) withhold rent; (3) break lease and move; (4) organize the tenants do do #1 or #2;(4) retain an attorney to demand landlord brings apartments up to code or sue in Small Claims court; (5) claim rent abatement.

Since you indicate moving is not an option, you should focus on the other 4. I am sending an excellent article from the Riverside Legal Aid, which explains, in detail what to do, and how to do it. It would take me far more room that I have here to explain everything, as well as too much time.

http://www.inlandlegal.org/publications/landlord_tenant.pdf

Please feel free to contact my office by e-mail

or phone, if you need more help.

Good luck!

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Answered on 12/10/07, 2:01 am


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