How to Handle a Negligent Landlord in a Professional Manner

Renting a home offers benefits if you don’t have a credit score worthy of buying a house or if you only need a temporary solution to housing until something permanent becomes available. Another benefit is that your landlord is supposed to make repairs and maintain the property for the most part, such as fixing the plumbing or the heat if it doesn’t work. When you’re dealing with a negligent landlord, keep in mind a few ways to handle this person in a professional manner so that you don’t end up out in the cold.

Communicate

Before resorting to other methods, talk to your landlord about the issues that you have with your home. Your landlord might not know that there are things that need to be addressed in your home, which could be why they aren’t repaired. While you’re living in a house, make a list of the various issues that you come across, and calmly present them at a time when you are not busy with other activities.

Take It to a Lawyer

If after presenting your concerns to your landlord and the person still does nothing about the issues that are the responsibility of that person, then it might be best to visit an attorney. When you talk with the attorney, you should have documents of paying rent on time and any repairs that you have made. A civil litigation lawyer will sometimes suggest that you take the landlord to court to either have the repairs made to the home or to find another solution to the problem.

Call an Inspector

An option that you have that doesn’t involve going to court would be to contact the local health inspector or building inspector. This is a person who can take a tour of the home to look for things that need to be repaired before making a final report. Take the report to your landlord or to an attorney. Most of the time, an inspector can make further reports or talk to your landlord on your behalf.

Move to Another Home

If the issues don’t get resolved, then moving might be the best option that you have. Try to pack as many belongings as possible that you won’t need for a few weeks so that you will be ready to move when you find a new home. When you find a new home, make the new landlord aware of the reasons why you’re moving, providing documentation as needed.

Fixing a leaky pipe, a floor that might be caving in, or a shower that doesn’t drain are not responsibilities that you should have as a tenant. When you’re dealing with a landlord who seems to only want money from the rental property, you do have options so that you keep a roof over your head. However, if these options fall through, then taking a legal route might be what is needed to settle the dispute.