Repairs, rent and deposits
When the landlord won't fix it, or won't give it back
A rented home has to be livable, and a deposit is your money until the landlord shows a lawful reason to keep it.
Mold behind the dresser, a heater that's been out since November, a leak the manager keeps promising to see about. I help you put the problem in writing the right way, keep the record a court would want, and press for the repair and for rent back for the months you lived with it.
After a move, I go through the deposit statement line by line. Normal wear isn't a charge, and a landlord who keeps a deposit without a proper accounting can owe more than the deposit.
What I handle
The repair and money problems I take on
Repairs asked for and ignored
Heat, hot water, leaks, mold, pests, broken locks and windows. Letters first, then a claim if it comes to that.
Rent increases
Whether an increase follows the local rules, and what to do about the months you already paid.
Deposits kept or cut
A written demand, then small claims or a lawsuit for what's owed. Bring the move-out photos if you have them.
Fees and charges
Late fees, utility bills split in odd ways, charges the lease doesn't support.
Harassment
Repeated entries without notice, threats, cutting services. Pressure to leave can be a claim of its own.
Discrimination
Being treated differently for your race, disability, family, source of income or another protected reason.
Questions
Repair and deposit questions
Can I just fix it myself and take it off the rent?
Sometimes, but the steps and the limits are strict, and getting them wrong can hand the landlord a reason to evict. Talk to me before you spend the money.
How long does a landlord have to return a deposit?
The deadline is set by the law where you live and is usually a few weeks after you move out. If it has passed with no money and no itemized list, call.
I'm afraid asking for repairs will get me evicted.
That fear is common, and the law in many places protects tenants who ask for repairs. Writing it down the right way protects you further. We'll do it together.
Living with a repair that never comes?
Send a photo and a sentence. I'll tell you what can be done.