Repairs to Rental Property Disputes in Sun Valley

Landlord-tenant disputes can be challenging. Since the landlord owns your home, asserting your rights as a tenant—including the right to live in a well-maintained property—can feel intimidating.

It can be frustrating when your landlord ignores your repair requests or makes excuses without following through. However, do not let repairs to rental property disputes in Sun Valley negatively affect your life. If you are having trouble getting your landlord to address repairs, help is available. Contact an experienced landlord-tenant attorney at our firm today to discuss your options.

Tenants’ Right to Habitability

Under California Civil Code § 1941.1, landlords have a duty to ensure their properties are safe for their tenants to live in. This is known as “habitability.” For a property to be habitable, it must:

• Be adequately protected against inclement weather
• Have working plumbing and gas lines
• Have hot and cold water
• Have adequate heating and electricity
• Be sanitary
• Have stairs, floors, and railings in good condition

Barring a substantial violation by the tenant that leads to the breakdown of one of the above conditions, landlords must make the repairs necessary to maintain the unit’s habitability. For example, landlords must resolve a rodent infestation regardless of whether it occurs one month or one year after the tenant moves in. However, they may not have a duty to resolve the issue—at least at no cost to the tenant—if mice come into the property because the tenant never takes the trash out and habitually leaves scraps of food on the floor.

Habitability violations are serious. Our landlord–tenant lawyers could analyze your case to determine if any repairs needed for your rental property in Sun Valley affect habitability and advise how to resolve the issue.

Responsibility for Non-Habitability Repairs

Issues that do not affect habitability are typically considered “minor repairs.” For instance, having no power for two days could affect the tenant’s health and safety and, therefore, the property’s habitability. However, a burnt-out lightbulb requires replacement but would not affect the property’s livability.

Non-habitability repairs can be frustrating, especially if multiple issues accumulate and go unresolved. However, because they are considered less serious, there is more leeway in allocating responsibility for these repairs.

The lease agreement usually specifies who makes and pays for non-habitability repairs and may also include a clause about how to handle rental property maintenance disputes. However, regardless of the terms of the lease, the tenant must notify the landlord of any issues for which they are responsible and allow them adequate time to respond.

Our Sun Valley landlord–tenant attorneys have extensive knowledge and could review your tenancy agreement to ensure it complies with California law, clarify responsibility for different repairs, and identify potential actions to resolve a property maintenance dispute.

Options To Make Landlords Comply With Their Duty To Repair

There are various ways to handle disputes over rental property repairs in Sun Valley. Tenants may induce a landlord to comply with their legal duty to make repairs by sending a written request or calling a code enforcement agency, such as the public health department, if appropriate. Depending on the situation, tenants may break their lease or withhold rent until the landlord fixes the issue. They may even initiate a lawsuit to effect compliance or get monetary damages.

Every case is different, so it is important to speak with a landlord-tenant attorney before deciding how to handle your repair dispute. No matter your goals, an experienced landlord-tenant lawyer could identify potential remedies to help you obtain an acceptable resolution.

To Resolve Rental Property Repair Disputes, Book a Consultation With Our Sun Valley Attorneys Today

If you are involved in a repairs to rental property dispute in Sun Valley, contact an attorney who will fight for you. Call Block LLP today to schedule a free consultation.