Injured on property where I rent, my rent is now behind and my lease is expired.
This is a slightly complicated situation. I live in the state of MO. About 5 months ago I was injured on the property due to the negligence of my landlord and the conditions of the building I live in. The landlord dug a hole in the front yard deeper than I am tall and the steps in the back have no rail and are falling apart. During a particularly bad storm I had to leave my house and to avoid breaking my neck in the hole (which he left for months until my neighbor and the guy across the street filled it in, months after I was injured) I braved the back steps slipped down them, had nothing to catch myself on and then cut a large chunk of skin off the top of my foot on the busted up concrete at the bottom of the stairs. I do not have insurance but I tried to resolve the situation without involving my landlord. It became clear after a few weeks that this was no an option. I then tried to contact my landlord but he never responded. I have tried to contact him by phone and through post but received nothing in return. Finally 4 months later the landlords wife calls me and says that there is a problem with the rent (it hasn't been paid since this happened)and they need to know what is going on and if I still live there. Of course they know what's going on because I have told them repeatedly. I call back right away and never receive a response. They come in my house when I am not home and leave a copy of my lease and a later saying I have 5 days to pay them $1,800. I still have not been treated for my injuries because I can't find a doctor to help me and at this point my foot is black and I am terrified that I am going to lose it. On top of all of this a week after I get the letter from my landlord his daughter comes in my house drunk at 1am and assaults me. I have pressed charges but I have had no word on what is happening. Now, my original lease is the only document I have ever signed with them. When I moved in here I moved in with my then boyfriend and both of our names are on the lease. He moved out a year and a half ago and the original lease has been expired for just over a year. I informed my landlord when my ex moved out and he agreed to let me live here by myself. The lease states that I will not hold him responsible for any injuries or damages property however, half of my possessions are destroyed because the foundation is falling apart and mud leaks through the cracks of it every time it rains. My questions are, first of all, will this lease hold up in court? Can I hold him responsible because of the conditions of the building which he still has not fixed,if the lease does hold up? Over all what are my options and what problems might I be facing in court because I have not paid the rent?
