landlord breaks lease becuz we called bldng insp (Boston, Lowell: section 8, apartment)

[erica in lowell]

moved into new place in lowell with a lease in sept08 landlord spouse built an illegal handicapp ramp on our only means to get to and frm prop my husband in nov fell on ramp...injured spine...out of wrk snce happened landlord did nthng to fix problm after 2 weeks i called city hall and of course there ws no permit and wz deemed unsafe......so my landlord is mad about ths and hz locked us out of basement were our washer and dryer is which is prt of lease and as well as our circuit breakers are there wht can i do .......this has become a complete nightmare

[miu]

Talk to city hall again. Explain the situation and see if they have or know of a tenants rights group to help you out. Or call a lawyer and see about suing the landlord over your husband's injuries and loss of work. Did your husband go to the ER? Was his fall documented? And take pictures of everything.

Keep a detailed journal of everything that has happened to you and your husband since you moved into that apartment. You're probably going to want to move out, but at the same time, I feel that he owes it to you to pay for your husband's medical bills and lost pay. And since he's the vindictive one, he also owes you moving expenses to your next apartment and should compensate you for any finders fee you paid to get this apartment. He's in no position to be so mean to you, when he's the only one who's at fault in this situation.

[lrfox]

Hi,

sounds like you're in a bit of a rough situation and I hope you can work it out.

I would suggest contacting the Lowell Housing Authority if you are section 8 and city hall if you aren't. If you haven't already tried making peace with your landlord, maybe you could consider that. If he/she is unreasonable, or you're afraid to contact them, it may be time to get a lawyer. If they are not allowing you to access services outlined on your lease, you have enough grounds to leave the lease as they have broken their part of the rental agreement. Depending on the contents of the lease and housing laws in Lowell, you may have the leverage and legal standing needed to sue (if you choose to go that route)--especially considering the injury to your husband and time out of work for an accident on an unapproved construction.

Again, if it's beyond the point where you can fix the problem with the landlord amongst yourselves, I would get a lawyer and have him/her review your lease and better inform you what your options are. If you are in the right, they may have to cover your legal fees and you could possible sue for other side costs (i.e. the difference in cost of having to do laundry at a laundromat). I would also document and hold onto any evidence that could possible help your case.

If it's an option, get out of the lease. It's never fun to move, but you should be able to leave without penalty (and again, maybe some extra cash if you have the right legal representation). It seems the relationship between you and the landlord is too strained to repair so moving elsewhere would probably be a better option for you.

good luck and happy holidays. I'm sorry you have to deal with something like this during this time of year. From what you've said, it seems like you have a good case.

[KarynO]

Who would you blame if you fell while walking through the woods?...God?

[brent s]

The original post makes my brain hurt.

[miu]

Originally Posted by KarynO

Who would you blame if you fell while walking through the woods?...God?

The landlord is responsible for keeping the outside walkways clear of snow and ice. In addition, the ramp was built without the proper permit. Therefore, the ramp could even be contructed poorly and without a proper railing. Or maybe the ramp is constructed at too steep an angle. Who knows? And that ramp is the only way in and out of their apartment. Slippery ramps are more hazardous than slippery steps imo. Ramps are at a slope, and steps give flat horizontal places to put ones feet onto. But the landlord is the one who is childlishly punishing his tenants by locking them out of the laundry room and access to their circuit breakers when they did nothing wrong. The landlord is the one escalating this situation, not the O.P.

[KarynO]

Originally Posted by miu

The landlord is responsible for keeping the outside walkways clear of snow and ice. In addition, the ramp was built without the proper permit. Therefore, the ramp could even be contructed poorly and without a proper railing. Or maybe the ramp is constructed at too steep an angle. Who knows? And that ramp is the only way in and out of their apartment. Slippery ramps are more hazardous than slippery steps imo. Ramps are at a slope, and steps give flat horizontal places to put ones feet onto. But the landlord is the one who is childlishly punishing his tenants by locking them out of the laundry room and access to their circuit breakers when they did nothing wrong. The landlord is the one escalating this situation, not the O.P.

These people and their landlord have that mentality that I can't stand...I live on 80+ acres in the mountains...I've had my septic fail and besides the nasty back-up in the house, I had to wash my dishes in a kiddie pool for a month...the same house developed a mold problem and despite years of investment and improvements, we had to tear it down at a total loss as insurance doesn't cover mold...the following winter we had to live in the foundation with no heat while we re-built the house paycheck to paycheck...when surviving gets tough, I think of the grit the first settlers of this country must have had to take on these New England winters with very few resources...

Here's my bottom line....if these people were born 200 years ago, they never would have survived!

[miu]

You're right about the early American settlers being tougher than the people of today. Of course, many of those settlers died and their lifespan was much shorter than today also. So the early settlers weren't exactly superhero tough either. So anyway, toughness aside, all landlords are still responsible for maintaining his property and making it reasonably safe for their tenants to get in and out of their dwelling. And that means clearing the snow and applying sand and salt as necessary. And there is no excuse for the landlord building that ramp without a building permit from city hall.

In Boston, the city is enforcing the rule of landlords having to shovel and clear their sidewalks of snow within 3 hours after a snowstorm.

Boston Snow Emergency - What are my responsibilities regarding snow removal? - FAQ

If you are a renter, your landlord is responsible for removing snow and ice on sidewalks, entryways, and exits from the building. Landlords are responsible for clearing walkways and stairs even if they do not live in the building. Paths must be cleared or made safe within three hours following a snowstorm between dawn and dusk.

[KarynO]

I don't see the poster mention snow or ice in their post so you are adding to their story with your own assumptions. My last word.

[erica in lowell]

i dont think you understand the situation this landlord out right got mad at us for his illegal actions ths is nt 200years ago and i have a fam to support and due to ths situation im unable to work. this landlord is a dirt bag and we are on our way out. replying to your moronic comment has giving me a migrane plze...........