Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Report A Slum Landlord

Report your landlord if she doesn't fix damaged property.


If your landlord has refused to fix a problem, does not care for the property that you live in as agreed upon in your lease or enters your apartment illegally without giving you advanced notice, then you have a slumlord for a landlord. If the landlord has violated your tenant rights or made you live in an unsafe dwelling, you can report him to the proper authorities. Many tenants are afraid to do this because they worry that there will be more trouble with the landlord, however the state laws protect tenants against threats and illegal practices.


Instructions


1. Document all the issues that you have with the dwelling that you live in and take pictures to back up the documentation. Write a list of problems and concerns, and then mail the list to the landlord with a copy of the photos that you took. Do not give the landlord the original photos, because they should be kept for your own evidence. The landlord should fix the problems within 30 days. If he does not, you can report her.


2. Write down the date that you sent the letter to the landlord and keep a record of all conversations that you have with him regarding the dwelling. Include the information of what was said, the date and time of the conversation and how the landlord acted or talked. Keep track of the amount of time between when you reported the problem and when it gets fixed.


3. Report the landlord to the Better Business Bureau by going to its website and filing a complaint. The Better Business Bureau will investigate the complaint or at least place the complaint on file. This will alert other consumers that there has been a problem with the landlord in the past.


4. Report the slum landlord to city health inspectors. The city health inspectors can inspect your building to ensure that it is safe to live there.


5. Report the landlord to the HUD housing authority if your housing is funded through Section 8 or low-income housing programs. HUD will investigate the situation and report the investigation to both you and the landlord.


6. File a case against the landlord in small claims circuit court. If she is not taking care of the property that you are living in you can create a court case around the unsafe living conditions and costs that you incurred if you had to fix the place yourself.