If a tenant isforced to move due to uninhabitable conditions, is the landlord liable for moving expenses?
Question Details:
The water heater broke 1 1/2 years ago. The landlord replaced it but the new water heater has never worked properly. Several components have been replaced but the water heater has remained defective. I been with out hot water for 3+ months. Landlord was given a notice to repair after the Housing Authority did an inspection and abated the rent. No repairs done. Now I am being forced to vacate within 30 days because the Housing Authority condemned the house as being uninhabitable. I can not afford to just up and move, 7 people plus a dog, so quickly.
A landlord is required to provide working hot and cold water to the premises that you are renting. If the landlord fails to provide these simply utilities, then you are not required to move in and/or remain at the premises and pay rent. If you began paying rent and the landlord is unable to pay these or provide them due to the building being condemned, you may file a lawsuit against the landlord for breach of the lease and seek damages for moving expenses as these damages are ordinary damages flowing from the landlord's failure to comply with his obligations. I suggest that you hire a lawyer to file a lawsuit or do it yourself in small claims court for mving expenses as a result of the landlord's breach of the lease.
