Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Recently some pipes were leaking under our home. The landlord had the leaks fixed, but now, a month later the aftermath is still evident. A hole is the wall where the repairmen entered, a molded carpet in the adjacent walk-in style closet and a huge spike in the utility bills. I have asked him to repair these issues but he has constantly dragged his feet. Now he says he will replace the carpet, but when I asked for reimbursement for a portion of the utilities he told me that if I couldn't shoulder the burden for them then I could move out.

My question(s) is this-

what are my rights as a renter here and did the landlord make previous missteps in the process by keeping us in the home during repairs and with the molded carpet

thanks in advance

T.W.


Asked on 6/23/10, 5:49 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Tom Gallagher Gallagher, Krich & Bobrow APC

You may want to inform your landlord that he must makes these repairs in order to provide you with a safe and inhabitable unit. This is known as the implied warranty of habitability. If your landlord refuses to make these repairs you have a right to break the lease as mold infestation can cause health problems. You should contact an attorney and provide a copy of your lease for further information. Good luck.

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Answered on 7/05/10, 5:58 pm


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