Sarah has rented a house from Frank. The house is only two years old, but the ro

Question

Sarah has rented a house from Frank. The house is only two years old, but the roof leaks every time it rains. The water that has accumulated in the attic has caused plaster to fall off ceilings in the upstairs bedrooms, and one ceiling has started to sag. Sarah has complained to Frank and asked him to have the roof repaired. Frank says that he has caulked the roof, but the roof still leaks. Frank claims that because Sarah has sole control of the leased premises, she has the duty to repair the roof. Sarah insists that repairing the roof is Frank’s responsibility. Discuss fully who is responsible for repairing the roof and, if the responsibility belongs to Frank, what remedies are available to Sarah.  

Explanation / Answer

As per the US laws, a tenant has rights to live in a home that is in good and habitable condition. That is to mean that the house and the yard should be in a good condition. It is the responsibility of the landlord to keep premises in a fit and habitable condition, except where the premises are rendered unfit or uninhabitable by the tenant. The landlord should maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating and other facilities. (Section 47a-7). The section also provides a provision in a single family residence for a written agreement between the landlord and tenant to make the latter responsible for performing the duties of landlord.

However in this case it appears that there is no such written agreement between landlord and tenant. Hence it is the responsibility of the landlord to get the repairs done within a reasonable time from the date of intimation by the tenant.

Following are the remedies available to the tenant

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse S
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.