What To Do if Your Landlord Ignores Repair Requests

When you rent an apartment in Los Angeles, there is an expectation of your landlord or property manager to take care of certain things around the building. Depending on the terms of your lease agreement, there may be certain  things you are not allowed to do as a renter. On the other hand, you may be wondering what to do if your landlord ignores your repair requests.

State, county, and local laws give tenants the right to demand repairs from their landlord. Because of these laws there are ways to force your landlord to comply with your requests. At CD Law, our attorneys could help you understand these laws and restore your home to a livable state.

Actions To Take if Your Landlord Does Not Answer Your Requests

California law (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1941.1, 1941.3) outlines both the tenants’ and the landlords’ duties under a lease agreement. Your first step should be reviewing your agreement and making sure you are notifying the right person of your repair request. For instance, if you have an on-site maintenance department or property manager, you must contact that individual first.

When you make a formal request for repairs, always include photos or videos of the problem. Include an explanation of how long the problem has gone on, and detail how many times you have tried to contact the landlord in the past. The photos should include a date and time stamp.

The formal request should ask your landlord to contact you and request repairs within a reasonable period. Thirty days is usually considered reasonable. Send your letter certified mail, return receipt requested, and keep copies of the letter, the receipt, and the answer when you get it.

If Your Landlord Still Does Not Respond

You must wait the full reasonable period before taking your next steps. Depending on the nature of your problem, you have several options. Before taking any action, it is a good idea to consult an attorney for legal advice.

Contact the city or county code enforcement if the issue involves safety or habitability matters. Code enforcement should be notified for major structural issues or serious violations. Examples could be leaks in the roof or walls, lack of running water, or lack of electrical connections.

A Repair-and-Deduct option may only be used once in any 12-month period, and there are limits on what you can spend. You cannot deduct any rental amount until after you have notified your landlord of your intentions to carry out your own repairs and actually completed them (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1942, 1942.5).

Other alternatives, such as constructive eviction (breaching your lease) or suing your landlord should not be done until you have consulted a lawyer and gotten a legal opinion on your case.

In Case of an Emergency

If you have a situation that requires immediate action and your landlord is not responding, you should contact an attorney or the County Consumer and Business Affairs office right away. They could advise you of the actions you should take.

Contact an Attorney if Your Landlord Ignores Repair Requests

If you are not sure what to do if your landlord ignores your repair requests, you can contact the Los Angeles habitability lawyers at Custodio & Dubey LLC. We could review your case and give you our best legal advice on how to proceed with your repair issue. You have a right to a safe and habitable living space, and we are here to help you.