Issues With My Landlord - What Can I Do?

[redpepper6]

Well, I guess since you have made an agreement to pay for part of it, it would be in your best interest to begin getting some quotes. You just dont know, maybe it wont be so bad. You dont want him hiring a 'good ol boy' to fix it though, and get in a situation where they create and set the price and laugh all the way to the bank.
Also, if you get estimates, you will be reasonably informed of what a fair or unfair price is. You'll also know whether or not whatever fix he comes up with will even cure the problem. You dont want to incur some huge bill from him and be stuck paying for something that doesnt even fix the problem. OMG that would be so bad.
When getting estimates its not important to lay all of this on the contractor either. Just explain the actual elec problem, tell them you are the tenant and that your landlord will be calling to set appt if he is comfortable with the bid. They dont need to know all of the personal issues.
Like I mentioned, hopefully this may not be quite as big a problem as you expect it to be. If neither of you are electricians, (my husband is) or your neighbor, then after a few bids you will become more knowledgeable about the entire situation and with this economy once you find out the exact issue, you can hire a contractor fully versed youself on whats what. Lots of out of work and perfectly capable electricians these days. Someone may be happy to give you a fair price and do quality work.

Oh yes, dont forget to ask around for reccomendations from friends, family, and co workers for electricians!!! Almost everyone has one in the family.
ONE MORE THING! You are in a dangerous situation as it is but worse because you dont have a lease. Before you commit to any payment plan, or half payment or whatever, make sure you draw payment plan up on paper and have him sign it. Get a receipt for each payment you make or pay with a money order or check. Keep a copy of the check/money order for yourself.
I still think this agreement is illegal and unfair. I would still call that number for free legal advice and get an appt. You may be able to get him to pay for all of it, as he should its his property and it is unsafe. He's not going to be able to rent that property as it is to anyone else if you move out!! So he looses bigtime if you move IMO. Get a legal apt. Get your repair quotes, draft a doc for repayment.
Im not a lawyer, but Im pretty sure that if you withold rent according to your states laws, he cant evict you or raise your rent by a rediculous amount. In Fl thats called a Retalitory Eviction/rent increase and is very illegal.

I wish you a speedy fix to this. I sure hope you get it resolved soon and safely.

[Cunucu Beach]

Thanks, redpepper, for all your sage advice. I did ask him did he want me to find someone and he said no, he would do it. He is my age--mid 70's and has lived here all his life and everyone around here knows how tight he is with money, although he has plenty (so people say.) I have already thought about estimates and getting copies of all receipts, plus his canceled check, as he will be paying upfront and I'll be paying him monthly. Closest Legal Aid help is about 85 miles away and I had already thought about that. It might be worth the trip to find out if NE has a similar law to FL's "retaliatory eviction/increase." The NE law does state that a landlord must maintain the property in a "safe condition". He never set out to be a landlord, having taken over this house from his son about 20 years ago when his son moved away, so this house is more of a nuisance to him than anything else. I think he would be just as happy if I did move out and he would be able to use it for storage again--if it didn't burn down first and if it did that, I don't think it wouldn't upset him a bit.

Thanks again.

[Cunucu Beach]

A little update:

Talked to a lawyer yesterday......in NE a landlord can evict a tenant for no reason with 30 days notice. So I need to tread easily with him on this issue. I don't think he would go so far as to actually evict but he might say something like, "This house is too much of a nuisance for me and I want you to find somewhere else to live." NE also has no "retaliatory rent increase" statutes so he could force the issue by just raising the rent.

At any rate, I have one more possibility of a house to rent and have a call in to its owner to talk to him. Wish me luck.

[Cunucu Beach]

Problem solved!! Third possibility panned out nicely and I'll be moving in another 4-6 weeks. Yay!!