How to break a lease without damaging record?

Question

Hey Ladies, I currently live in an apartment complex that has 1 - 3 bedroom apartments and 2 bedroom townhomes. I have townhome and am paying $1065/ month. Thing is, my dishwasher has not worked the entire time I have lived here. Not that I use it but still. I would like everything to be functional since I'm paying a high price for the area I'm in. They have sent a man 4 times to fix the AC and it has broken again. This time the landlady is telling me that since I have a town home I have to pay for my own repairs. I'm ready to move but my lease isn't up until January. Is there a way I can get out of the lease without damaging my record since the owners aren't doing their job? I have already written a very nice but stern letter stating if the repairs aren't done I will be reporting them to higher authority and withholding payment until things are properly fixed. She responded with "You live in a town home so its not our job". 
Is she right about it not being her responsibility? If so I'll break down and pay for it. If not, is there a way to get out of the lease?

Answer

I would suggest rereading your lease. See what it says in there about repairs. Also read your states landlord requirements. I know where I live they have 48 hours to fix your A/C or heat. I had the same issue... they didn't fix it so what I did was I hired someone and took it off my rent. They couldn't do anything because they failed to fix my A/C in the 48 period. I went without A/C for 3 weeks. I live in GA where it gets WAY too hot to go without A/C and I'm 29 weeks pregnant.

Answer

I've always thought if you're renting a place from someone it's their responsibility to fix it. Everywhere I have lived the owner takes responsibility. I would break the lease and the when asked about it when you're getting another house I'd explain how crappy the owner was. This happened to me and my husband and we just broke the lease and when the owner of the next house asked if we've ever broken a lease we said yes and explained why and they understood.

Answer

I had a similar situation with an apartment several years ago. I just documented my unresolved complaints, and then left a very long message (because they never answered the phone) explaining everything I had documented, and because of that would be moving early without penalty against me. Then I sent all the documentation in a letter detailing unreturned calls, etc.

I was basically such a pain they just let me off.

Answer

Check your lease. If it states you are responsible for home repairs then you're outta luck bust most likely that's not the case. Having a/c, unlike cable or other luxuries, is a standard necessity she has to provide to make the home she's renting a livable space. Plumbing, a/c, heat in some states, etc is on her as the landlord unless otherwise agreed upon.

Answer

If you're renting you are not responsible for repairs but I would read your lease. In my state the a/c is considered a need and without it the home is considered uninhabitable and you can legally break your lease. We lived some where without heat or a/c for months before we got lawyer. We moved out way before our lease was up.

Answer

Read your lease. I am a leasing agent for an apartment building company, if it doesn't say in your lease that they are responsible for fixing it then they aren't. Now, if it says they are you have a case. You need evidence supporting your claim, I will also tell you in a court of law tenants have way more rights than landlords do. So if you have evidence, they do not fix your problems, then they are breaking lease terms (which is a legal contract basically) you have full right to get out of your lease since they are technically breaking the terms.

Answer

Look up a 14/30 day notice. And talk to your local housing authority.

Answer

If you live in Britain you can withhold rent to pay for repairs.

Answer

OMG I think that lady should pay for your repairs on your town home or you report it because you have already wrote a letter to them you tried nicely so if I was you I would go ahead and report them that's what I would do but everyone has there own opinion

Answer

I would definitely read your lease and see what it says about repairs. If it states that it is your responsibility, then you'll just have to pay for it. If not, then your landlord needs to get her shit together. I live in a house and anything that breaks is still my landlords responsibility to fix. Our AC broke in June, luckily it happened while my son was in the NICU, so we weren't home anyway. My landlord had it fixed before we got home, I was not about to bring my preemie home to a house with no AC in 90 degree weather. But if it is her responsibility and she's still not handling it, then I would pay to get it fixed and next time you pay your rent turn in the reciept and deduct however much it costed from your rent. You could always take her to court and if you win then maybe it wouldn't affect your record as far as renting goes? I'm not too sure about that part.

How to break a lease without damaging record?

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