Once you sign
lease to a rental unit, you are automatically entitled to certain privileges. Unlike homeowners, you are not responsible for making all repairs. Landlords are required by Landlord-Tenant law to keep things a "fit and habitable condition" during your residency. If landlord fails to do this, you may have to get a bit aggressive.Although specifics of these requirements will vary slightly from state to state*, responsibilities of landlords are generally same. Some of typical landlord responsibilities include:
* Putting and keeping premises in a fit and habitable condition. * Keeping common areas safe and sanitary. * Complying with building, housing, health, and safety codes. * Keeping all electrical, plumbing, heating, and ventilation systems and fixtures in good working order. * Maintaining all appliances and equipment supplied or required to be supplied by landlord. * Providing running water and reasonable amounts of hot water and heat, unless hot water and heat are supplied by an installation that is under exclusive control of tenant and supplied by a direct public utility hook-up.
If landlord does not fulfill these duties, and you have been a responsible tenant (keeping all fixtures and appliances clean and undamaged), you need to be aggressive. Now by "being aggressive" I do not mean slashing your landlord's tires and leaving threatening messages on his or her answering machine. I simply mean that you shouldn't let your landlord convince you that repairs "aren't that important" or that they'll "get to them whenever they get a chance."
The first step you need to take is to let your landlord know there is a problem. According to Neighborhood Link, an on-line web site for people of Ohio, "If a landlord does not meet duties imposed by Landlord Tenant law... then a tenant may give landlord a written notice to correct condition. This notice must be in writing and delivered to person or at place where tenant normally pays rent. The tenant should keep a copy of this notice."
It is incredibly important to have a written notice. Don't assume that your landlord will remember that you told him or her there was a leaky faucet in apartment 3G while you were walking by. Landlords are busy people! So, providing physical copy of a letter will actually help them remember there is a problem. Not only will this be easier on your landlord, but in case your landlord refuses to make repair, you can use your copy of notice as a defense. If you tried to take your landlord to court without a copy of written request, you wouldn't have any substantial evidence to back up your claim. However, if you provide judge with a typed, signed and dated copy of request for repairs, chances of getting those repairs made are much higher.
