Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

I am writing today to inquire to what legal advice you could offer me in a situation related to my rental rights. I have been renting a home in North Hollywood for a year and a few months, and am having trouble justifying the $2500 monthly expenditure. As a renter in So. Florida for the last seven years, I was fully aware of all my renters rights and laws S.Florida had in compliance, and never had any issues, but find myself in a situation where I have no experience or idea the rights I have in SoCal. I understand and am fully aware that your advice is no substitution for true legal representation, but would like to know your thoughts in how I should approach my current situation.�

�� My family and I, including myself, my fianc�,and my now two year old daughter, �rented a home in North Hollywood, Dec.3,2009, in a verbal agreement of residence, for one year. Since that year has been up, we have another verbal agreement with � our landlords consisting of month to month terms. In 2009 we did agree to the $2500 a month rent they were charging for their home, but in the last year, We have been made aware of quite a few problems. I am wondering whether these problems are with in state law of continued rental payment, or if we are within rights to demand lower rental payment for this property until these problems are taken care of? Here is a list of the issues we have with our home:

1. we have constant sewage issues with our pipes under the property

2. we have no working electricity in the front portion of our home

3. we have an open hole under our laundry dryer leading to under the home

4. our roof leaks in four places in the home when it rains

5. we have a clear and noticeable smell of mold/mildew in our home at all times

6. have had repeated plumbers come out to our residence, who have let us know we have a broken pipe, leaking sewage under our home/as well as root blockage in our main lines

7. walls of house in all rooms were not repainted between renters

�� We have addressed our landlords with these problems on a number of different occasions, and have been met with the result of fixing the problems for a short time ( the problems still occurring within a 2 month span), or them telling us they will send somebody out to assess the situation and not having anyone arrive. Problems 1 - 7 mentioned above have still not been resolved and are ongoing issues. While in the mean time we are still paying the $2500 a month they demand. I am inquiring as to know whether or not, I should acquire legal representation, and if so, because my landlords don't understand the severity of the condition of their home,if I should first employ the services of a city inspector, to come and look at the property? Please understand, I have the funds to move from the residence, and am prepared to say an immediate "goodbye" to these issues. However, I am trying to make sure that another family does not fall into the same problems we have by renting this property. I feel my landlords have let these problems with their home go on for quite awhile. Please, in your professional opinion, I would be interested in knowing what steps you would take next to find a legal solution with landlords such as these. I also would like to know if SoCal, has a website where "slumlords" can be reported, and their properties flagged for inconsistency to new renters, that might be interested in this property next?

��Thank you for your time, and response.�

�� �Continued Success,�

Family in North Hollywood......�

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