Anyone here ever break a lease? (please read before commenting) [View all]

[xmas74]

I am currently living in a trailer. I moved in just a few months ago. When I first moved in I knew it wasn't great but it was clean and the flooring looked new. I was promised new screen windows.
Since moving in I've found numerous problems.
1) The windows. We still don't have those screens and can only open a couple of windows, since a couple are all that have screens. Also, the windows are not sealed all that well and every last one of them leaks while it's raining. For those of you who've noticed, Missouri is having a heck of a rainy season this year.
2) The floor. I am finding more and more soft spots every day and the rain isn't helping. In the kitchen it's even worse. I moved the refrigerator and found something unexpected: the fridge was actually balanced on a support beam with vinyl flooring over it. The area around the beam is very soft, almost to the point of completely rotting. And it's spreading.
I also found something else. Underneath the bottom cabinet in the kitchen there was a piece of cardboard with the vinyl flooring attached to it. The cardboard was placed there-no glue, no nails, nothing to keep it in place. When moved it revealed a hole about 18 inches long. You can see the ground under the trailer with that hole.
3) The doors. The outside doors do not seal well when closed. This wasn't noticeable until it started raining. Now every time it rains there is a puddle on the floor inside the trailer.
4) The roof/ceiling. The roof leaks. It leaks enough that there is now what looks almost like a tear in the back bedroom ceiling and what appears to be mold growing around it. I put on some gloves the other day and tried to scrub it with bleach but I think it's too deep to get to. My child and I both have allergies, to the point that she has stayed with my parents. I'm just trying to get through it, though my eyes itch constantly, I'm always hoarse and have a nasty, drippy, congested nose. I've also been waking up with headaches.
5) The water. When I moved in I was informed that water was included with my lot fee, as was trash and lawn. Turns out that isn't the case. I now receive a water bill every month from the management company for the park, averaging about $75. I don't have a washer, no dishwasher and nothing is running. It shouldn't be a very high bill. I was also sent a bill for lawn care-$125. They mowed it only once.

A friend who works in renovation walked through and his personal opinion was that I needed to get out ASAP. He said he didn't think it could be fixed. He said the whole place needed a new subfloor and that can't be done with me there. He also said that he thought it looked like black mold, which means that they would probably have to tear the place down.

So, I have a lease here. Any advice? Can I find someone to rent me a place if I explain the situation about the condition of the place I'm in? And would I still be responsible for the lease? (I can't afford to rent two places.) If taken to court could I possibly win due to the condition of the place? I feel worse and worse every day and I believe it's from the mold growing around the place. I've got to get out soon but if I'm sued and I lose I cannot afford to leave.