What to do if my landlord took my door handle and now I have a hole in my door?
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What to do if my landlord took my door handle and now I have a hole in my door?
She said that she’s fixing it but I’ve been without handle on my door for a week now. I’m getting worried for saftey reasons.
Asked on October 7, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You may have several options, not to mention a serious safety issue. You can claim a breach of the "warranty of habitability" which is a guarantee that is implied in every residential lease. Accordingly, you can either withhold rent until the repair is made or, if the situation persists, you can terminate your lease. A third, and perhaps best option for you, is to make the repair yourself and the deduct the cost of a new lock from your rent. No matter which option is taken, you can report this condition to the housing code enforcement officer in your area.
At this point, you need to let your landlord know that you are going to take action and hopefully that will resolve things. if not, you should consult directly with an attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant matters. At the very least you need to speak with a tenants right advocacy group. If you attempt any of the above remedies you must be certain of your legal rights under applicable state law.
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