Landlord Neglects Essential Repairs

Summary

The user, a tenant in North Carolina, is dealing with a landlord who is neglecting essential repairs, leaving the tenant without water and with faulty electricity. The tenant was informed of their rights under the Residential Rental Agreements Act, including the ability to withhold rent, deduct repair costs from rent, or terminate the lease if vital services arent provided. The tenant was also advised to contact the local housing authority for further assistance, even though the landlord is private.

Full Conversation

Landlord tenant issue
Hello Dominique. Could you please provide some more details about your issue? And, could you also let me know your location as laws may vary based on the place?
The landlord won’t fix anything and I don’t have any water and the electric is not working properly
Hello Dominique, based on your situation, you may have legal rights to:
*. Withhold rent until repairs are made
*. Repair and deduct the cost from your rent
*. Break your lease and move out
However, these options depend on your location. Could you please provide it?
*
Hello Dominique, based on your zip code, *, you're likely in North Carolina. Here, tenants have rights under the Residential Rental Agreements Act. Importantly:
- Landlords must keep premises habitable
- You can make repairs and deduct cost from rent
- You may terminate the lease if vital services aren't provided.
I don’t have anywhere else to go
Hello Dominique, I understand your concern. In North Carolina, if conditions are unlivable, you may have the right to involve local housing officials who can order your landlord to make necessary repairs. Would you like assistance on how to do this?
Yes
Hello Dominique, you can report these issues to your local housing authority. In Washington, NC (*), that is the Washington Housing Authority. Their phone number is (*) *-*. You can call them for assistance.
I’m not under housing the landlord is a private landlord
Hello Dominique, even if your landlord is private, local housing authorities can still intervene in severe cases. They can assess living conditions and enforce necessary repairs. Please contact the Washington Housing Authority at (*) *-* for further guidance.