Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in New Hampshire

Hello,

My wife and I moved into an apartment at the end of May of this year, the improvements/repairs were not completed when we moved in, but it was in "good enough shape" to be inhabitable. It has been 7 months now and i can't get him to get back here and finsh the improvements/repairs that were promised to be done in short order. Now i understand that "improvements" are one thing, but some of the things that need to be completed are a safety issues, I.E. unfinished and unframed windows with exposed insulation, sharp edges on wall corners, etc. Other things such as an unfinished bathroom with light fixtures just hanging out of the walls by the wires is unacceptable to me. The bathroom has not been used since we moved in. The bathroom, the master bedroom, the master bedroom closet, the room we use as a second bedroom, and 2 other closets, all have NO doors! I feel this is a very big problem. We have asked repeatedly for him to come over and to please get things completed and have had no success. I am at a loss as to what to do next, short of with holding a month's rent check to pay a "handyman" to come and do the work, but i know that probably wouldn't be wise and may be cause for eviction. So, what do i do? How long do I wait? How many times to I need to ask him to finish the work? Any advice that you may provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to consider my question.

Sincerly,

Scott Marcelais


Asked on 12/03/09, 6:05 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Bruce L. Dorner Dorner Law Office

The proper way to address this issue is to give WRITTEN notice to your landlord of all the problems. If they are not fixed in a reasonable timeframe, you should then make sure your rent is current. While your rent is current, contact the building inspector or code enforcement officer for your town and file a complaint. At that point you may withhold (escrow) your rent while the code officer determines what must be done to bring the property within compliance with local regulations. Again, keep it all in writing. You did not mention the type of lease agreement. There may be other issues arising from the lease itself. My response is of a general nature only and may not cover all the issues in your particular situation. You would benefit from meeting with an attorney to review all the facts and circumstances of your particular situation.

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Answered on 12/09/09, 8:48 am


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