How to Reduce Your Rent Until Your Landlord Meets His or Her Responsibilities

Some local and state laws allow tenants to withhold rent (this is called abatement) until a landlord corrects problems and meets his obligations to renters.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• File Cabinets
• Attorney Referral Services
• Banks
• Postage Stamps
• File Folders
• Notebook Papers
• Pens

1. Contact your landlord and explain the nature of the problem with your rental unit. Document the problem in writing by sending your landlord a letter that clearly explains your problem and provides a reasonable timetable for correcting the problem.
2. Contact a real estate attorney or local housing authorities before proceeding with further action to learn about the proper legal procedures in your area for withholding rent until the problem is corrected.
3. Make sure your complaint is serious enough (such as a lack of utilities) to justify withholding all or a portion of your rent.
4. Send a second letter (certified mail, return receipt requested to prove receipt) if your landlord does not respond to your request within a reasonable time period, and inform him that you'll withhold all or part of your rent until the problem is corrected.
5. Deposit your rent into a separate bank account until the problem is corrected.
6. Discuss further action with a mediator or a real estate attorney if problems are not corrected after you've withheld all or a portion of your rent.

Tips & Warnings

• Protect yourself by knowing landlord-tenant laws in your area. Always consult a real estate attorney or local housing authorities about the appropriate legal procedures for withholding rent in your city or state.
• Some states require housing authorities to inspect violations reported by renters or require renters to deposit withheld rent into an escrow account monitored by the court system.
• Keep a copy of all correspondence for your personal records.
• Don't jeopardize your rental rights by withholding rent until you consult a real estate attorney about landlord-tenant laws in your state. You may risk the chance of getting evicted if you withhold rent for minor problems.