All Forum Posts by: Renny Deckert

I didn't not pay December because I wanted a new lease, I didn't pay December for two reasons. One, because I didn't know what was going on with the new lease because they failed to return my calls. Two, I can't pay rent if nobody picks up the phone. I'm not sending a money order or check to someone who may not even be in existence anymore. Point is, nobody bothered to pick up the phone or return my calls, leaving me wondering whether or not the landlord was even alive. As I said, he has been in the hospital which is why nobody was answering me back. So how is it my fault that rent wasn't paid yet?

Wow. Time to reiterate. I never said the word "dangerous". I DO NOT have the funds to move my family. I am simply trying to seek options that involve being able to stay longer without facing actual eviction.

At this moment, yes. If living here with repair issues that aren't being taken care of gives me an advantage, yes. But am I required to pay my monthly rent if there are repairs that need to be made that are being ignored? I now realize I missed that part in the lease agreement, so I am now aware I'm currently on a valid lease.

They do, with no reason for it. It makes no sense because I know for a fact that the residence was unoccupied for almost 2 years, probably because it's a very very small house and property. I'd rather not live in a hostile environment, but I'd also like to keep a roof over my family's heads. Moving is not an option at this time because I cannot afford it. That being the case, an attorney is way out of the question unfortunately. If I can handle this without one, I will.

There is a clause that states it will roll over to a month-to-month if no other agreements are made and if the landlord has accepted a rent payment beyond the end of the lease.

So my lease was up  at the end of October. I tried to contact my landlord for about a week to speak to him about renewing my lease, but never got an answer or call back. I went ahead and paid a month of rent for November, and then got a call from the son of the landlord in the first week of December. The landlord is in the hospital, and now his wife is in main control. I told the son that I wanted to renew my lease, and he was okay with that. He told me he would call me again so we could meet in a few days to sign the new lease. He never called me back, and never responded to my phone calls for the next two weeks. I called the office a couple times to have the wife call me, but the son called me instead. Now, he's telling me that he does not want to run out to me because I am so behind on rent. I told him I was not going to keep paying you rent without a proper lease, and that was why I hadn't paid December. He does not care, and wants to evict me. As of right now, I'm still trying to contact the wife as she is in main control. 

There have been problems with the landlord since I moved in here. My roof leaked for 2 months in one room and when he finally sent someone out to fix it, they simply put up new drywall, and never even bothered to completely finish the ceiling. I'm also positive they never did any type of mold treatment or removal, let alone even put in new insulation. Because of that, my 1 year old son has slept with me in my room since day one. There are window panes missing, windows missing locks, and a front door that doesn't even latch at the handle. The only thing I ever made a big stink about was the roof. I merely mentioned the other things a couple times and the landlord never bothered to fix those. 

With all that has happened, do I have to worry about being evicted? Or can I take pictures of things such as my unfinished ceiling, and use it as evidence in court? I'm aware they may not have to renew my lease of course, but at this poimt I am just trying to keep a roof over my family's head. We are in no condition to start a new lease somewhere else where we need to pay the first month's rent with the security deposit, especially because I'm sure the security deposit for my current place will most likely be withheld from me. Which begs the question, if this whole process is dragged out for a couple months, and I will not be paying rent as I do not have a lease, will they still have to give me my security deposit back? I'm especially worried about this because my landlord is a terrible landlord, and his son strikes me as the type of person who will withhold information and make false accusations in order to have my family removed. My landlord owns a law office, which according to everything I found online is the worst law office ever. I have found nothing but absolutely negative reviews about him and his conduct in his court cases.

So my important questions are:

Can I be evicted? How can I fight this? Am I required to keep paying rent without a current lease? What are my grounds on staying, and what are the details I am going to need should this be taken to court?