SLUMLORD

I will do my best to make this story as short as possible.

I went  to look at a home for rent.  I questioned the landlord about painting and carpeting.  The painting was an odd 70s color and was dirty.  There were several cracks, scrapes and nail holes.  The carpeting had to be at least 15+ years old.  It had stains, was matted down, and you could tell it was laid over tile because you could see the "boxes" through it.   The basement and shed were filled (to the top) with the tennants old miscellaneous stuff.  He assured me that would be cleaned out within a month.

The landlord assured me the carpet would be replaced in a year and I was welcome to paint.  I told him we had a deal, provided this was in the lease.  He said it would be no problem.

Conveniently for him, he didn't have my lease ready until the day I moved in.  That should have been a red flag.  The lease stated that the carpeting would not be replaced until my cat was "eliminated".  Based on that, I probably won't have carpeting for another 10 years as my cat is very young.  As far as the paint goes - it is as to "landlord specifications", which is pretty vague.

Fast forward 2 months.  My stove broke the first few days and he charged me $100 to fix it (it was in the lease).  I had a leak in my laundry room and bathroom.  He fixed the one in the laundry room but said "since you take a shower everyday and this has to be dry for a period of time, I can't tell you when that will get fixed".  After several complaints about the basement and shed, he finally told me to "go ahead and do it yourself".  Since he said that, I can be assured he won't do it.

I AM VERY, VERY  WITH THIS WHOLE SITUATION.  SINCE I SIGNED THE LEASE, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY LEGAL RECOURSE! 

I AM IN PENNSYLVANIA.  ANY ADVICE?

• SLUMLORD - Shalyn840
  • A link that may prove helpful - Happy MT Robin
    • Thanks for this link, very informative...nm - .
  • First of all, I am sure that painting the walls is the landlord's duty. - .-
  • I don't know about PA, but in Michigan..... - MT and worn out

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