Slumlord Wins Again!
Slumlord Wins Again!
Posted 08/03/2010 - 10:00am by Kristine Capasso
Category:
The Accuser:
Kristine Capasso The Accused:
Catherine Cordero
Description:
Ever rented a property where the landlord just wants to collect the rents and never fix anything in their slowly deteriorating structure?
That is where I have found myself with my family for three years. She starts off appearing to be well-intending but once she sees that she has you, all bets are off. I was in awe when I watched her replace the windows of the neighbors across the street after they have only lived there 6 months while my windows ice over and leak every time it rains. So, my windows were never in her “budget” but theirs were? Let’s not forget the dishwasher that she never completed fixing so every time someone did dishes in the adjacent sink they got a shock from the exposed wires hanging underneath. At first, I did some repairs myself like when the shower rod crashed down on my husband’s head 2 weeks after moving in but when it came to repairs which were beyond my capability that is when my slumlord revealed her true colors. Her answer to my multiple complaints, too many to list here, has been to increase my rent. She has since given me another rent increase that is beyond my capability and has forced me out. I told her I could not accept the increase and she is evicting me. We go to court today. I hope she does not have the judge in her pocket like she has the Hatfield Police in her pocket. I simply wish one thing; I wish I knew a way I could warn other renters like myself before they rent from her. This is not spite, this is a clear cut case of someone who has money taking advantage of someone who does not.
Photos:
Comments
Update to case: My landlord was awarded one months rent and the judge did not take into considertion my 2 month security deposit. I have researched this issue extensively and found there is an unwritten adendum to all contracts called the implied warranty of habitability law. This includes water entering the home and broken windows which will be the basis for my case. I must allow her 30 days to return my security on her own and than I can file in district court which I have every intention of following thru with.
If appliances have faulty wiring that are giving people shocks when they use them, as you indicated happens with your dishwasher, then that could be a problem that puts people's lives at risk. You should contact the city about this, and find out what the regulations are regarding these types of safety issues in the context of renting -- I suspect they'll tell you that the landlord has to fix it.
Start with the big "reasonable" things, like the electrical safety issue, and always put your complaints in writing (and keep them short and factual, e.g., "The dishwasher has an electrical problem where we get shocks when we use it, when can you arrange to get this fixed for us?"). If your landlord refuses to fix it, then you have a paper trail that can be useful in court later on should it come to that (which it appears has already happened).
Your local fire department would probably also be very interested to know about this electrical safety problem. When someone is reckless about safety, I'm pretty sure they'll try to correct that as soon as possible (because prevention is a lot easier than fighting an electrical fire).
I'm guessing that officials who start looking at your situation may feel disgusted by the way you're being treated to the point of giving you more helpful information about where to go next (e.g., more regulators for other regulations that your landlord may be violating).
Please provide an update about how your court case went (assuming you don't mind and the court hasn't explicitly forbidden this).
Post new Comment