Withholding Rent Letter

If you're seeking damages for emotional distress caused by a landlord's discrimination, or punitive damages for especially blatant and intentional discrimination, a lawsuit may well be your best bet. Understand what's involved in suing your landlord. You may file a lawsuit in either federal or state court.

Your landlord is responsible for repairs to keep the property in good condition. Georgia law says that a landlord cannot make a tenant make or pay for repairs, unless that tenant, his/her family or guests caused the damage. For serious repair problems, local housing code departments can inspect for possible violations.

Know your state's landlord/tenant laws. Read and respond to the court summons. Try to work out a settlement. Consider legal counsel. Show up for court. Look sharp and provide evidence.

Withhold rent Georgia landlord tenant law does not outright state that a tenant in Georgia has the ability to withhold rent in response to habitability issues. Repair and deduct tenants have the right to repair the issue themselves and deduct a reasonable amount for the repair from the following month's rent.

Dear (Name of landlord or manager), I am writing to request repairs to the (appliance, heating/air conditioning, plumbing issue be specific!) due to (reason for repair; this could include things such as broken handle, leaky sink hose, even normal wear-and-tear that would necessitate replacement).

In general, tenants do not have the right to withhold rent if the landlord does not carry out repairs.In certain circumstances, however, a tenant can pay for repairs and deduct the cost from future rent.

The landlord had a duty to reasonably maintain the property; The landlord knew or should have known of the dangerous condition; The landlord breached their duty by failing to repair/fix the dangerous condition;

Tenants can all agree to withhold rent until the landlord makes repairs. A group of tenants can ask a judge to order the landlord to make repairs. If the landlord absolutely refuses to fix the bad conditions, tenants can ask a court to appoint a temporary landlord called a receiver in order to make repairs.

Uninhabitable conditions can include dangerous ones, such as holes in the floor, unsafe or exposed wiring, or non-working air conditioning in dangerously hot summer months. Gross infestations of roaches, fleas or other pests are also uninhabitable conditions.