What Can You Do if Your Landlord Breaks Promises About Repairs

A tenant is renting a room in a house. There were problems with the condition of the room, including a window that sticks, that the landlord promised to fix. The tenant was also supposed to have access to cable in the room, and access to shared laundry, but neither are available. The landlord controls the thermostat and it's too hot in the summer and will be too cold in the winter. The landlord says that if the tenant wants it to be warmer the tenant will have to pay more rent, even though utilities are supposed to be included. What can the tenant do?

In terms of temperature, you will have to check the laws of your state, as well as any local ordinances, to see what temperature ranges are permitted. If the landlord keeps the unit too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer (in a jurisdiction that requires air conditioning, or imposes a temperature limit if it's present in the home), you may have a basis to claim that the unit isn't habitable or to seek a partial rent abatement. The absence of laundry facilities and cable, if promised in your rental agreement, likely also provide a basis for a rent abatement.

The maintenance issues may or may not be a problem, depending upon how they affect health and safety. You may want to report the issues to the local building department, or other local unit of government responsible for inspection of rental housing, to see if they rise to the level of code violations.