PDA

View Full Version : Does anyone know anything about....


Jill C. in AZ
10-26-2005, 04:42 AM
.... Landlord tenant disputes? Everyone in our apartment complex is getting kicked out of our homes. They are turning them into condos and they have gone out of their way to make us uncomfortable. We have had water turned off from 10AM until 8:30PM three times in a month, did not have any outside lighting for over 2 months with 2 rapists in the area. They had a guy come paint new stripes in the parking lot at 3AM, waking me up. They dug up the old parking lot starting at 6AM. They have dug holes all over the complex looking for the water pipes so they could convert the apartment pipes to individual condo pipes. They left these holes uncovered for 1 month. They closed 2 out of 3 pools at the begining of the summer and kept them closed for 2 to 3 months. They even closed the work out room. We walked around the complex for 2 days and got close to 100 signatures on a petition thats states everything they have put us through and that we are upset.

There were people that refused to pay rent this month. My lease is up at the end of the month. I paid rent but then placed a stop payment on my check. I found out that no matter what is going on, you have to pay rent so I cancelled the stop payment after 5 days. They just now found out even though I have been talking to them about it. I asked them to run the check back through but they won't and they tell me that I owe late charges. Plus, since 14 other apartment complexes here in the city are turing condo, you can't find a place to live. I finally found a place and they will not hold it for me, because they know they can get someone in there sooner. So, I had to put $2,000.00 down to hold this other place and now this complex tells me I have to give them 30 days notice in order to move out. I have never posted my problems on here before. So. sorry but I just wanted to ask if anyone knows what I can do about the apartment situation.

THANKS!

Sharon
10-26-2005, 05:50 AM
State laws are different but here's a link to AZ state law about landlord / tenant

http://az.gov/webapp/portal/SearchServlet?restrict=&q=landlord


there's an interesting point on it....something about you getting 2 months free rent if they intentionally cut off essential services e.g. water, light etc.

What about putting rent in escrow until this is cleared up?

rossid
10-26-2005, 09:49 AM
The poor people just outside New Orleans are being evicted and 50% of them are not even around. They'll have to start from scratch if they return.

Jill C. in AZ
10-26-2005, 11:14 AM
Hi Sharon, Thanks for the info. Where did you find the part about 2 free months rent? I really don't want anything free, I just wanted them to let us take money off of rent for the water and lights not being on. Very unhealthy and not safe. Or at least they should let us move out if it is the end of the lease and they are turning them into condos. Not only did they do all that stuff to us, but they were very nasty about everything also. You sound like you've been involved with this kind of stuff before. - Thanks again Gomer Sharon!

Sharon
10-26-2005, 12:29 PM
I just briefly scanned the overview of the tenant / landlord rights and responsibilities....I think it was down near the bottom.

There also has to be noise ordinances in your area, referring to the painting and digging. Do some research. Get to know your rights and the responsibilities of the landlord. They really have no right to "push" you out without making some compromises to you. Read your lease.

BTW...I'm know as Queen Clown Gomer / Gladiator Woman......long story. :D

SirMax
10-26-2005, 12:34 PM
as mentioned each state is different...

Here in NC a landlord MUST keep the place habitable and cannot turn off lights and water but the tenant cannot with hold rent either. The tenant may sue the landlord for what is called rent abatement. That just means that if I pay $500 a month for my apartment and you turn the water off then my apartment might be worth only $300 that month (it's never free unfortunately)....call your local clerk's office to talk to the judge that oversees those type of cases....each is different and it is difficult to give advice as to what to do

The Unknown Gomer
10-26-2005, 11:29 PM
Also, a phone call and/or a letter to the Real Estate Commission might be in order as well. That's what I ended up doing during an entirely different situation that I was in. The landlord was trying to keep our entire security deposit, when they were by law eligible to keep NONE of it, and after a couple of letters to the Real Estate Commission, the landlord ended up sending me a check for the entire security deposit. Nyah.

Entirely different situation, I know, but they might be of some help in your situation as well...

SirMax
10-26-2005, 11:34 PM
also read your lease!!! each one is different...don't just take what they say to you