Uninhabitable Housing and Essential Services¶
Landlords are required by law under the warranty of habitability to provide safe, clean, and livable housing. This includes working heat in winter, running hot and cold water, working plumbing, secure locks, and structural safety.
Do this now¶
- Notify your landlord in writing. Send an urgent email or written notice detailing the specific repair needed (such as no heat, severe roof leak, or raw sewage backup). Keep a copy.
- Photograph and video the damage. Capture clear photos and video recordings of leaks, mold growth, broken heating units, or sewage overflow.
- Contact city code enforcement or health department. Request an urgent inspection from local code enforcement or building inspectors. Official inspection reports carry strong legal weight.
- Research legal options before withholding rent. Do not stop paying rent without consulting local legal aid or tenant rights organizations. Rent withholding rules strictly require placing rent in escrow accounts in many jurisdictions.
... warning "Carbon monoxide and gas hazards" If housing issues involve gas smells or faulty heating appliances, evacuate immediately and call emergency services or the gas company from outside.
Common habitability emergencies¶
- No heat in winter: Temperatures dropping below safe levels create freezing hazards.
- Sewage backup: Raw sewage creates immediate biohazard threats.
- Roof leak or structural collapse: Poses imminent physical danger to occupants.