Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Massachusetts

Utilities are included in my rent. But, for 1/4 of the current month there have been no utilities so I cannot stay at the house (no electric, no heat, no hot water, etc.) and it is freezing inside the building due to power outages in the local area for many days. Is my landlord responsible for a generator in this instance to maintain a safe living environment? Do I need to pay full rent since she will get a discount on utilities but will still need to pay full rent for only having 3/4 usage for the month? I have had to pay to eat outside the house. I have had to make other arrangements for bathing and all else. If our utilities go up because we have more people there visiting we have been told we need to pay more rent - shouldn't I pay less rent or none if I can't stay there at all and don't get the utilities I have paid for?


Asked on 11/02/11, 6:43 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joseph Murray Joseph M. Murray, Esq.

Read your lease or take it to an attorney to review it. If no lease or it does not address this issue, try negotiating a reasonable rent reduction with your landlord personally or through an attorney.

Failing that, determine whether the Board of Health might declare the apartment unfit for habitation while electricity is out such that you may have grounds to withhold a pro rata amount of the monthly rent.

Good Luck!

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Answered on 11/03/11, 8:29 am


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