General Discussion

Benton D Struckcheon

(2,347 posts)

21. I'd think you need a Certificate of Occupancy to rent a place out.

Sun Jun 16, 2013, 11:43 AM

Jun 2013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_of_occupancy

Check that out.
If you have all those leaks and you can actually see the freakin ground from inside this "home", I can't see how it would ever be granted one, and if it has one, it should be easy to get it revoked given your description of the condition it's in.
Not a lawyer, but you might ask the cheap one that other guy referenced about this angle.

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Anyone here ever break a lease? (please read before commenting) [View all] xmas74 Jun 2013 OP

Sounds like you were knowingly conned, but every state has its own tenant-landlord Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #1

I don't know if there is. xmas74 Jun 2013 #2

you need to research your local laws, and get the biggest complaints in writing ASAP. bettyellen Jun 2013 #3

I've only found info about state law xmas74 Jun 2013 #5

you may not have separate county laws then? - try to research other's housing complaints bettyellen Jun 2013 #8

Thank you! xmas74 Jun 2013 #10

There are laws on how the place must be taken care of by the landlord. napoleon_in_rags Jun 2013 #4

It can be hard to find a place to rent later on if a prospective landlord finds out you broke the xmas74 Jun 2013 #6

I just updated my post. napoleon_in_rags Jun 2013 #7

I'm in the cracks. xmas74 Jun 2013 #11

If it's raining on you, most decent landlords will understand you couldn't live there. bettyellen Jun 2013 #9

And I do have receipts proving that I pay my rent on time. xmas74 Jun 2013 #14

Never, NEVER, give them direct access to your checking account. Sheldon Cooper Jun 2013 #24

All the above advice seem reasonable -- I would add two more suggestions: Raine1967 Jun 2013 #12

A number of them have recently been emptied out xmas74 Jun 2013 #16

Lease SamKnause Jun 2013 #13

Local news stations are an hour away. xmas74 Jun 2013 #19

You might also try to talk to the building inspection department csziggy Jun 2013 #15

Local building inspection does no good right now. xmas74 Jun 2013 #23

If it's affecting your health you need to get out csziggy Jun 2013 #27

There are a few at my church but I won't ask them. xmas74 Jun 2013 #35

If there is a mold problem, get out. I was exposed to extensive mold for about a year and a half. Mnemosyne Jun 2013 #33

Thank you. xmas74 Jun 2013 #34

Check your lease. politicat Jun 2013 #17

I've left messages xmas74 Jun 2013 #36

That is fishy. politicat Jun 2013 #63

What, specifically, does the lease say quakerboy Jun 2013 #65

Nothing. xmas74 Jun 2013 #68

Here - look at 441.234 treestar Jun 2013 #18

Yeah, that's all I could find too. xmas74 Jun 2013 #37

Some CITIES have landlord/tenant laws that are JimDandy Jun 2013 #44

My town has been fighting this problem for years xmas74 Jun 2013 #48

great find--how nice of you! renate Jun 2013 #60

Sounds like they've already broken the lease Cal Carpenter Jun 2013 #20

Thanks for the good luck. xmas74 Jun 2013 #38

I'd think you need a Certificate of Occupancy to rent a place out. Benton D Struckcheon Jun 2013 #21

I've never seen one in all my years of renting. xmas74 Jun 2013 #39

You wouldn't see it in the house, Benton D Struckcheon Jun 2013 #41

I hope this link helps - You may be able to escrow your rent myrna minx Jun 2013 #22

I might need to look into that xmas74 Jun 2013 #40

well one of my tenants hfojvt Jun 2013 #25

They have only mowed once this year. xmas74 Jun 2013 #42

I would tell the landlord that because of the black arthritisR_US Jun 2013 #26

better approach than mine (below) Voice for Peace Jun 2013 #29

That might be an interesting route to take. xmas74 Jun 2013 #43

I would call the local health department and ask for an inspection Voice for Peace Jun 2013 #28

Someone else posted something about this. xmas74 Jun 2013 #49

Call your fire dept Corgigal Jun 2013 #30

Good advice has been given above... Eleanors38 Jun 2013 #31

I agree with calling the health department but be careful, if they condemn you're out on the okaawhatever Jun 2013 #32

Put everything in writing rather than calling landlord. Keep copies, send certified or some uppityperson Jun 2013 #45

Communicate either certified mail or.. rsmith6621 Jun 2013 #55

Nope xmas74 Jun 2013 #70

A lot of good advice above. JimDandy Jun 2013 #46

You know exactly what you need to do. You have a legal problem. Get a lawyer. CK_John Jun 2013 #47

One, xmas74 Jun 2013 #50

I understand the hesitancy.... grasswire Jun 2013 #53

I can't stay there. xmas74 Jun 2013 #57

have you mentioned any of this to your landlord dlwickham Jun 2013 #51

I've called xmas74 Jun 2013 #58

send a certified letter dlwickham Jun 2013 #69

Ask your contractor friend to write a list of what he found and sign it. Warpy Jun 2013 #52

It's a 1980 xmas74 Jun 2013 #59

Get your local code enforcement involved. Show them the issues. Take pictures and diabeticman Jun 2013 #54

First - look for a Fair Housing organization in your city or state Ms. Toad Jun 2013 #56

Did you check with your local HUD? Lady Freedom Returns Jun 2013 #61

Your Landlord already defrauded you.They broke the lease.Uninhabitable domicile... easychoice Jun 2013 #62

sounds like Fraud , i hope you can get out of it JI7 Jun 2013 #64

kr for visibility. my advice would be to look for Legal Aid (or whatever it's called in your state) HiPointDem Jun 2013 #66

I would recommend. NCTraveler Jun 2013 #67