hardworker15
Jan 8, 2009, 01:33 PM
I live in PA and In January of 2008 I signed a Rent with Option to buy month to month lease. The property was "as is" but I told the "landlord" that I was not willing to do anything major to the house i.e... major plumbing, heating, structural, etc. He assured me that the only thing needed was cosmetic and had that written into the contract. Ok, here goes... I found out after about two months that the whole upstairs needed to be rewired. The landlord fixed that and added the charge to my rent. I had been getti9ng water bills no less than 395.00 to 598.00 per quarter. The gas line was red tagged. Thefurnace stopped working in November and it took him 4 days to fix it (which he added to my rent). I was willing to try until I found evidence of big rats and the basement walls started to cave in. I also found out the property was not inspected prior to me moving in and technically I was not supposed to live there. On December 29, 2008 I moved out. The house is not safe at all. Up to this point I have never been late with the rent and I had spoken to him about the repairs needed. He is now telling me I am responsible for January's rent and under normal circumstances I would agree, however when the walls started to cave in doesn't that pose a health risk and the lease is null and void? He also told me that He would file eviction papers if I don't pay him by January 10, but I am already out (I have pictures of the houses condition and proof that it was never properly inspected and that he did not have the OK from the boro to rent it). Should I worry about him taking me to court or is he just trying to get more money out of me. Keep in mind all of my rent had been paid on time and I was out before January 1. I finally got ahold of him on January 2 to tell him. He wouldn't return my phone calls. Sorry this is so long but it is a true situation and I did not want to leave anything out. Please help.