Landlord Help (Penn: renter, house, tenant)

[brooks718]

i have a few questions i live in Schuylkill haven Pa, i have asked my landlord to make servel repairs since i moved in Sept 07 and well none have came thur, now the stove dont even work, where i can go to find these laws so i can take to him, Also in our house we have a two car Gar. But he says we cant use Them he wants rent each of them out even thou we live above and all our needs such heating and panels are down their and etc. Can he do that according to Pa Laws of Renter and tenents law? If their is someone that knows or can help even point in the directions thank in advance please email me at [email]dmoney4015@yahoo.com[/email]

[mams1559]

Here's a link that may help you in finding out what you need to know:

Local Tenant Rights, Laws, and Protections: Pennsylvania - HUD

Also, from personal experience, when there are repairs to be made that the landlord doesn't/refuses to do, what I did was put the rent money in an escrow account pending the completed repairs. You must provide notice you're doing this to your landlord so he doesn't think you're skipping on the rent. You place the rent due in the account until the repairs are made. Once made, the money is released to the landlord.

Or, if he's willing, you do the repairs and knock the amount off the rent due. One of my landlords was gracious in that respect. We repaired and repainted the entire first floor. He basically gave us our security and 1st month's rent back to us.

[pennsteve]

Sounds like your typical slum-lord. Make a note of everything that needs repaired and then point them all out to the code inspector when they come to inspect. Although I feel that most code inspectors usually do nothing about it anyway. You might have 2 choices. Move, or live with it.