
Quoting
gail in georgia
Here are the statutes for your state that offer the remedies should a landlord fail to address repair issues. You are allowed to withhold rent under "certain circumstances" but there are steps you need to take (i.e., notifying the landlord in WRITING)....this is better than emails or phone calls as you can keep a copy of this documentation for your files. In addition, the rent you would normally provide your landlord would, instead, with the clerk of court to show your "good faith" intentions of rent payment when repairs are completed.
Tenant Allowed to Withhold Rent for Failure to Provide Essential Services (Water, Heat, etc.): Yes, but only under certain circumstances. Instead of paying rent to the landlord tenant may deposit rent with the clerk of the court with jurisdiction over the premises. Tenant must have first notified landlord in writing of landlord’s failure to fulfill obligations defined in §§ 5321.04 or in the rental agreement, or if a governmental agency has found code violations that could affect health and safety, AND landlord has failed to remedy the conditions in a reasonable amount of time considering their severity and the time necessary to remedy, or within 30 days, whichever is sooner. (§§ 5321.07, §§ 5321.08, §§ 5321.09 and §§ 5321.10)
I hope this helps.
Gail