I rented this home from my friends sister and the only thing she told me was how much the rent would be each month. We had no written contract. The house started to fall apart months later like the sidings on both side came off a lot and that was at the beginning of this year. That problem was never fixed. Then leakage occurred around June and up until now when it rains hard and it was never fixed. I stopped payment on checks for June and July and just did not pay since we had to find somewhere else to go. Can her argument stand up in court. Not to mention there were other damages as well.

You lived there and didn't pay her rent. I think she'll prevail in Court.

What steps did you take (other than stopping payment on the rent) to solve the situation - letters to her, complaints to the Health Department?