Dammit. Should I stay or should I go?

[graywarrior]

I gave a rental deposit on a mobile home and when I went to clean up to get ready to move in tomorrow, I noticed that the windows do not close all the way and the A/C does not work well enough. I am having second thoughts. I haven't signed the lease yet, but the owner has $850 which I am afraid he will not return.
Last week I requested that he fix the screens, but he indicated that I handle that.

What what you all do?

[Blue-Jay]

1. If you go will there be trouble?

[soothsayer]

2. If you stay there will be double? n/t

[graywarrior]

3. I can see you will be very helpful

I think you may have answered my question

[soothsayer]

15. Your local gov should have a landlord/tenant assoc or advocacy group

There are really clear laws that protect landlords and tenants, so if you don't make any headway on your own with your landlord, give them a call and see what your options are. THey might be able to force him to return your deposit, for instance, if your place is not functioning as he promised, etc. But it's better to act quickly and find out what your rights are.

[J.C.M.]

4. Ernest money

What about stay there for a month sandbagging on signing the lease, then once you used up the $850 in rent split!

NOT Joking, I think if you leave you are going to have to eat that $850.

[graywarrior]

5. Shit. That's what I think too

[Philosophy]

11. $850, what's that like 2 years rent on a trailer house?

Why did you have to pay that much up front?

[Rick Myers]

12. I agree!

[Droopy]

6. Tell the landlord about the problems

and see if you can get him to fix them. Say that you will not rent the place if he does not fix the problems. Seeing as how you haven't signed a contract this shouldn't be a problem. And as for your money, I do not believe that he can legally keep it if you have not signed a contract. If it comes to be that you do not want the place and he will not give the money back, threaten legal action.

On edit: I'm hoping that you have a receipt.

[EstimatedProphet]

7. YOU handle fixing the screens on a rental?

That's absurd. It's his. Why should you fix it?

[graywarrior]

9. My receipt is my cancelled check, which I don't have back yet.

And yes, I agree..the screens are his. I just have a gut feeling this is a bad deal.

[2Design]

14. stop payment on the check - ck with your bank if it has been

presented yet

[miss_kitty]

8. another thing you can do

have the shit fixed, and deduct it from the rent. then move asap. you don't want an asshat for a landlord. don't sign anything either ("I smashed my thumb trying to fix the ___. Had to call someone in, in the end. Sorry.").
Find out what's legal from some local renter's thing-here we have a landlord-tenants union.

[Blue-Jay]

10. You could insist on a clause added to the lease.

Any permanant repairs/improvements that you do gets subtracted from that month's rent as long as you provide receipts (and pictures?).

[jdj]

13. All I know is it takes about 60 days to evict someone.

So you can stay for about 60 days worth of rent, and then leave, if you get out of signing the lease so it isn't on your credit.

I think maybe there is an organization you can contact, like the housing authority or someone, to ask for advice on this. He may be breaking some laws.

I saw a guy on tv fix screens for about $7.00 each the other day, with parts from a hardware store, and it didn't look that hard. Maybe give him an estimate for parts and include an hourly wage that is comparable to what he would pay a handy man, it took this guy on tv about 15-20 minutes to fix one screen.

edit: oh honey, that reminds me of one of my worst landlord stories where the landlord hired this drunk plumber to fix broken pipes (he stepped on my bed in muddy boots, the asshole) and he used plastic and off course they broke, and then the floor gave way. The landleech came and said that he could relate, that his Billiards Room had once flooded, and it was just awful. (@#$%) Then he said he would hire someone to clean up the mess. Then he said "On second thought, I'll just give you the money and you do it yourself" and he handed me a ten dollar bill and left. Oh and I had to pay $100/month there for my dogs, because it was dog rent, $50/month per dog!!!!

[sbj405]

16. Run run run. I'd try to get out of it ASAP

If cancelling the check doesn't work. I'd contact whoever deals with landlord tenant issues in your jurisdiction. And if it comes down to it, eating $850 now will probably be better than dealing with this guy for a year. Based on his response regarding the screen issue and the condition of the property, he's sure to be a piece of work as a landlord. Good Luck.

[graywarrior]

17. I really want to say thanks to you all

Sometimes I feel like my best friends are here at DU