merkerguitars

Well i moved out of a shit hole apartment about a month ago. And now he's kicking my ex-roomate out and me. (even though i told him face to face that i was moving out about 1 1/2 months ago.) And he's trying to stick me with lay payment fees and whatnot. And he overcharged for rent really bad. What I want to do is get an inspector in there and get it condemed. I think it will considering the following problems with the place there is a wall that is rotting really bad....to fix it they put up a piece of crappy carpet and stapled it over the area. Rodent problems.....every week I saw a shrew or a mouse or some time of rodents. This place also has a really bad bat problem. The shower was actually a old claw foot tub with a hand shower head taped to it. And the drain for the tub leaks so the floor underneath has about a 6 inch hole and is rotting really bad. The place also has false wood paneling up over the plaster walls with really ancient outlets (ungrounded) and last but not least the boiler is really old (used to heat the place) and it took a hvac guy about 2 weeks of straight work to fix it. Also the apartment that is directly above me has no control over the heat...the rely on the downstairs to turn on the heat.....who should i contact to get this place inspected.....btw i'm in wisconsin..thanks!

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MSD

Call town hall and ask for the building inspector. Or, send pictures to the local newspaper or news channel, with the address of the place and teh landlord's name.

Locobot

Jesus, are you sure you're living in Wisconsin, and not a fucking Dickens novel? You should also pay attention to your fire-escape/smoke-alarm situation for safety and grievence. Leases can be a bitch to get out of, you may be liable for documents you've signed.

Lebell

Most of the local TV stations will have a 'trouble-shooter' type consumer advocate.

Nice thing is, they know the laws, will publicize the problem and best, it's free.

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illdeviant

wow. yea. the tv news trouble shoot thing is a go getter. mes that land lord up.

Neo

Health dept might help, but that thing with the TV news is always good.

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Conclamo Ludus

I live in Michigan and I was shocked at how well the laws can work for the Renter. I just did some googling and found out how protected I was. The eviction process is very VERY ugly for the landlord and from what it sounds like you could easily get this place condemned. Get on the horn with your local government and find out the Renter's rights in your area. There are usually watchdog groups out there for just such a thing. Chase this slum lord out of town!

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portwineboy

I've had rats, mice, and cockroaches at one time or another (and in one horrible remarkable place all at once) but bats? bats?

Please excuse me while I run screaming from the fucking room! Sorry, no can do bats. I hope you get this guy but good my friend.

BATS?

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Cicero

I’ve never stayed in an apartment before, went from living with my parents to a college dorm, back to my parents place then went on to owning my own house, but I did spend a year working for a company that owned over 30 apartment buildings across the US. I worked in the accounting department, I would audit the paperwork after someone started a new lease or closed out their old one. I’ve seen LOTS of people get burned because they did not read their lease. Read it; get other people you trust to read it (maybe a lawyer if it is a free consultation). Look for the loopholes. Repair all damages you’ve made that did not pre-exist. If damage did pre-exist, make sure it was documented when you moved in, if not it’s on your bill to repair. Even though you might move out, they can still charge you money for breaking your lease agreement. Make sure it is documented on paper that you wanted to move out. Send a certified letter to the landlord with return receipt. Read the contract; follow the contract, if there is one. Remember, you can get charged for moving out before the end of the lease. Maybe you’ll be lucky and there’s a loophole that you can move out early if you make proper notice and adhere to the contract. Again, read the lease, it is a legally binding contract you’ve signed.

Antagony

I just wanted to point out the wholesome goodness of this statement. aahahahaha

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dayvid

I'm sure he'll start kissing your butt if you jsut show him a copy of this thread. I googled up a link to the Wisconsin Tenant Resource Center: they're probably pretty good at this kind of strategizing.
http://trc.studentorg.wisc.edu/

Bobaphat

Did you break your lease? Then he should charge you rent and late fees. You knew the condition of the place when you moved in and its not your place to say that you were overcharged. If you didn't think that the place was worth what he charged, you shouldn't have moved in there.

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merkerguitars

Umm I moved in when the rent was what it was worth.....then he jacked it up. And when he tried to have me get a new leased signed I didn't sign it. I didn't have much option it's not like I can just get up and move around as need me (god I wish I fucking could but i don't know any magic tricks).........if you where in my shoes you would feel the same.

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Ninja

nah id feel like feet :s

shadrock

Hmm, if you signed a lease then he is just as contractually obligated as you are. Meaning he can not raise the rates until that lease is over. You however are contactually obligated to make payments in the originally agreed rate on time. I would pay him the original rent and late fees, as no matter what you will probably have to pay these anyway. If you don't he's just going to say that you destroyed the place and he was not going to repair it while you did not pay rent, etc. Once your end of the contract is satisfied, then you can take him to court nor not upholding his end.

scrotilizr

call god damned geraldo rivera. he'll get bob vila in there to knock down that carpet wall and maybe even find al capone's secret shit. all on live tv no less. there, all problems solved.

Not_You

Is there a TFP lawyer forum?

There should be.

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Paper Clip

Bobaphat's argument is flawed. A landlord cannot rent a place that violates the building/housing codes at any price. I would bet that Wisco., like most states, has tenant friendly laws and consumer protection statutes. In Mass. the tenant can sue to get rent back for an unsantitary place. In Mass., you could even try for triple damages. A bit of education for the Landlord, and I'd bet that he'd see your side of the argument. I hope you have photos/documentation of the condition of the unit. Call inspectional services ASAP.

jarsh

i believe here in louisiana, the landlord has to repair all reported damages/defects in the apartment within a "reasonable" amount of time. there is probably the same statute in place in wisconsin because no one wants to live in "a fuckin dickens novel". if and when you report, you should sign it and make the landlord sign in reciept. then there should be something done before you move out. if not, sue the bastard!

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Slims

heh, it's sounds almost as bad as my first apartment.

Call the building inspector and the fire marshall. You can get them either shut down or fined really bad. The police might not be a bad idea either, at least they can tell you who to call.

Otherwise, don't underestimate the power of arson

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mathias3

Sorry dude, you're probably hosed since you're under lease. But you can save the next guy, AND get some revenge by getting him shut down. I work for an Architectural Firm and see this shit all the time.....call Code Enforcement down on his ass, and the fire marshalls as well. I'm positive he doesn't have a Certificate of Occupancy for a building with that many problems, and the Fire Marshalls can fine him PER DAY until he gets one, which he never will with those kinds of problems. Around here the penalty is $500 A DAY. Then call the TV news and the Better Business Bureau to make sure he loses any income he may have got on the place. Better luck next time.

asaris

It does depend on the state -- Michigan, where I was born, has much more tenant friendly laws than Indiana, where I'm living now. (Fortunately, my landlord is a great man.)

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boredjerk

I gave up on my landlord. I just fix shit myself, pay for it myself, make up my own receipt, and take it out of my rent. It works great because I can lie like hell and give my friends work.

All that shit requires court for enforcement so don't sweat anything under a couple hundred bucks.

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Derwood

This is why I always rented from real estate firms and not individual landlords. In Chicago, there are just too many scumbags. At least when you are renting from a company that owns 400 building there is someone who is accountable.

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