If you live in an apartment building or condo property that has more than 14 units and your landlord is not paying attention to health codes, then you may need the help of an experienced attorney. The reality is that most landlords have one priority: Making money. As a result, they may look for all sorts of different ways to save money. They may refuse to repaint your walls or replace your carpet, but when it gets to the point that serious safety or health problems arise, they’ve broken the law.
You can count on us to help you fight against landlords who aren’t taking care of the property. We know what evidence is needed, we know how to get the evidence, and we know how to ensure that you and other tenants understand your rights. Read on to learn about five of the ways you can strengthen your lawsuit and then contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
1.Keep your side of the street clean by being a good tenant
It’s frustrating and illegal when your landlord isn’t holding up their end of your lease. However, that doesn’t mean that you can get back at them in an illegal way. Don’t trash the property. Don’t break the other terms of your lease. Follow the rules of your lease and take reasonable measures to ensure the property stays clean. This may seem counterintuitive, but if you want your landlord to be held accountable for their actions then you should make sure you can stand up to the same attention.
2.Pay your rent on time
Wek now that it can be tempting to withhold your rent but it’s not a good idea. Not only will it not give your landlord any incentive to fix the issues you’re dealing with, but they can use the fact that you weren’t paying rent against you in the dispute.
3.Make any complaints in writing
It’s not enough to just call your landlord and tell them what’s wrong – you should do so in writing. This can be done via email, fax, or certified letter. The point is simply that you have proof that your landlord was made aware of the issue. It can also be used to prevent the landlord from retaliating against you.
4.Document it all
You should take pictures of every single health and safety problem you have. Save any correspondence you receive from your landlord. Get statements from others in your building or witnesses to the issues you’ve had.
5.Contact an attorney
In a perfect world, your landlord would do the right thing because it was the right thing. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. In many cases, a landlord won’t begin to take your issues seriously until you’ve hired an attorney. The good news is that we’re here at The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker to help you through this process. Call today at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
