Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Iowa

Since I have been a tenant, I have had the following issues with the unit:

-The refrigerator in my unit has never worked since I have moved in. I have not received a replacement fridge and it has been 4 months.

-I have had to purchase fuses for the fuse box

-The window in the kitchen and the window in the living room do not close and lock properly so therefore my electric bill has been expensive for the past month.

-The front door is not well insulated so the door leaks in cold air

-I have had to purchase my own door knob for the front door, because the old lock on the door was not working properly

-I have also had to scoop the units step, sidewalk, and portion of the driveway

-I am not even quite sure that the furnace has been through a recent inspection, along with a filter change

-I have had no hot water for the past 2 days

The landlord is aware of these items but have not done anything to fix the situation.

What would you reccommend doing about the situation?


Asked on 12/20/09, 7:40 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Lombardi Lombardi Law Firm

Have you read the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act in the Iowa Code? There are tenant remedies set out and they include written notices and times for the landlord to act. These are serious problems having to do with habitability and may give you the right to terminate the lease and move. My advice, if you're not going to hire a lawyer, then read the Iowa Code on this subject.

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Answered on 12/27/09, 5:16 am


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