Tenant Rights when it Comes to Repairs in Rental Property
As a tenant, you have certain legal rights when it comes to necessary repairs in your rental property. Landlords are required by law to ensure the rental property is up to local housing codes and is reasonably safe and habitable. This means that if there are any serious issues with the property, landlords must take action to correct them. Tenants also have other rights when it comes to repairs, such as being able to withhold rent or requesting a rent abatement if the landlord fails to make necessary repairs. Here’s what you should know about tenant rights when it comes to repairs in rental property.
The first thing tenants should be aware of is that landlords must maintain their rental properties according to local housing codes and make any necessary repairs or maintenance. This means that landlords must keep the property clean, safe and habitable for tenants, as well as make any repairs that are needed due to normal wear and tear or damage caused by tenants or guests. If a landlord fails to make necessary repairs, then tenants may be able to take legal action against them.
Tenants also have the right to withhold rent if their landlord fails to make necessary repairs. Tenants should document all attempts made by them or their landlord regarding the repair issue before withholding rent, as this will help demonstrate that they were attempting reasonable efforts towards resolving the issue before withholding rent. Tenants should also be aware of their state’s laws regarding how much of the rent they can legally withhold before taking legal action against their landlord.
Lastly, tenants may also be able request a rent abatement from their landlord if they fail to make necessary repairs in a timely manner. A rent abatement is essentially an adjustment in the amount of rent due for a period of time where there were issues with the rental property due to lack of maintenance by the landlord. Tenants should document all attempts made by them or their landlord regarding the repair issue before requesting a rent abatement, as this will help demonstrate that they were attempting reasonable efforts towards resolving the issue before requesting a rent abatement from their landlord.
In conclusion, tenant rights when it comes to repairs in rental property are important for ensuring that landlords maintain their properties according t o local housing codes and provide safe and habitable living conditions for tenants. Tenants have several options available if their landlord fails t o make necessary repairs such as withholding rent or requesting a rent abatement from their landlord.
