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Every tenant has the right to a habitable home, so landlords may be required to make repairs if something breaks. While this obligation doesn’t extend to cosmetic issues or minor annoyances, real estate law does give tenants legal options if conditions on the property are unsafe or not up to code. Protecting your rights in these situations starts with knowing when landlords are required to make repairs and what legal steps you can take if they refuse. Here’s what you need to know.

Repairs Landlords Are Required to Take

Real estate law in each state requires landlords to supply tenants with a structurally sound living space, a supply of hot and cold running water, and other vital systems. In Connecticut, landlords must ensure that the electrical, plumbing, ventilation, heating, and sanitation systems are in good working order. Maintaining and ensuring the safety of common areas like stairways, walkways, and elevators is also required.

What Landlords Are Not Required to Fix

real estate lawUnless specified in your lease or local real estate law, landlords generally don’t have to make cosmetic repairs or fix issues that don’t pose a safety risk. Torn window screens, running toilets, and dripping faucets may be a source of constant frustration, but they don’t render a building uninhabitable.

What to Do if Your Landlord Doesn’t Make Repairs

If your landlord refuses to repair a broken furnace or burst water pipe, reporting them to a housing authority may force them to take action. In some situations, you may be able to withhold rent until the landlord makes necessary repairs; although, this approach does have risks. Alternatively, some tenants choose to pay for the repairs themselves, then deduct the cost from the next month’s rent. Speaking to a real estate law attorney before taking these steps can protect your rights without exposing yourself to legal retaliation.

 

If you’re involved in a dispute with a landlord in Fairfield County, CT, the attorneys at D'Agosto & Howe LLC will deliver the sound legal advice and aggressive representation you deserve. Their attorneys have over 40 years of combined experience. Visit their website for more on their real estate law services, and call (203) 712-0210 now for your free consultation.

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