If the demand for apartments is high and the offer is relatively low – as has been in chattanooga for years – the landlords have an advantage. This can leave tenants restlessly how they can approach the landlords through maintenance or repairs.
“This is currently a landlord market,” said Emily O'Donnell, lawyer at the legal assistance of East Tennessee. “The rent is very high, the inventory is extremely limited. And so the landlords do not have the incentive that they can previously keep long -term tenants because they can turn every property very quickly and maybe even make more rent.”
The Free Press of Chattanooga Times spoke by telephone with O'Donnell about the legal protection of Tennessee tenants, some tips on communication with landlords and recommendations such as the relationship between a tenant and a landlord is looking for.
(Read more: How to find legal advice, lawyers in the Chattanooga region)
What to know: the basics of tenant and landlord obligations
A landlord is required to keep the property in a clean, safe, suitable and habitable condition. This means that doors and windows should seal and lock. There are no foster furniture from rodents and fundamental supply companies should be in operation.
The landlords are obliged to obtain “essential services”, including supply services such as gas, heat, electricity, water, sewer and other obligations that “significantly influence the health and security of the tenant”.
Landlords have 14 days to complete repairs after a written maintenance request was made. In counties in which the population is less than 75,000, the landlords have an “reasonable” time.
Tenants are responsible for fixing things that break or repair devices that you bought yourself. For example, if tenants put a hole in the wall, they are responsible for repairing this. When the roof runs, the landlord is generally responsible for such a repair.
Best Practices: How tenants can protect themselves
Try to build a strong, happy relationship with your landlord. Nowadays the rental market prefers the landlords – the demand for living space is high – so that it cannot hurt if your landlord actually likes it.
Always communicate immediately and in writing. If you make a call, follow a text or an e -mail. If the landlord stops answering, you have a record of your inquiries.
When moving in, take photos to document the condition of the house and avoid that existing damage is burdened. There is often an addendum to a rental agreement in which you can confirm the condition of the property when moving in.
Make a passage of the property before signing a rental agreement and make sure that the landlord will remedy the problems you find in writing or are obliged to move in. Take it again in writing. As soon as a tenant has moved in, it can be difficult to convince a landlord to make repairs to existing damage.
This is important: never hold back rent to force your landlord to repair. This can lead to the evacuation procedure initiating. A tenant can deduct the repair costs that have already been carried out, but only after 14 days has been exposed since sending a written maintenance request. There is more in the following.
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Options: What to do if a landlord is not reacting
If 14 days have passed and there is no indication that the landlord makes a good faith to tackle the problem, a tenant has some options:
– communicate in writing. Always make repair requests immediately and in writing.
– Find a new place to life. Lack of measures by a landlord can be justification to end the rental agreement. As soon as a tenant has moved, you should talk to a lawyer about whether there is a reason to sue the landlord. Treasers can be reimbursed for the costs of the move if a court determines that the landlord does not meet responsibility.
– you will receive an injunction. This is a legal warning that a judge has issued that shows the landlord to carry out the repair. The legal assistance of East Tennessee can represent tenants in emergency situations in which a tenant has informed the damage in writing and the landlord is not cooperative.
– Rent a technician. A tenant can set a qualified technician to carry out the necessary repairs and then deduct the costs from the following monthly rent. This option is associated with a certain risk, since the landlord can dispute the costs or the need for repair, and if the court agrees, this can lead to the clearance procedure can initiate.
Contact report for the America Corps member Jules Feeney at jfeeney@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.