No Hot Water-problems with landlord/maint.

I have had no hot water for 2 wks. My rent is bi-monthly and is due tomorrow. My landlord does not respond with urgency to address the problem. I have looked over my lease to see if itspoke of maint issues, but it does not. I live in a rink dinky apt. building, but can not afford to move. Do I have the legal right to only pay a portion of the rent because I consider it a half### apt. w/o hot water? Or do I have the leagl right to ask to be move into another apartment on site that has hot water? I am the only apartment w/o hot water. Please advise me what my options are leaglly. I definatly feel I should not be paying full price on an apartment that does not hav ehot water. I am not trying to get out of paying, I would really rather have hot water, but she does not seem to be trying to get it fixed and I feel I need to give her some incentive to get it done. Calling her and going by everyday does not seem to be working. Is there an agency i can report this to? HELP!

Please advise,
Michelle
From Galena Park, TX

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by frmstinkcity:
I have had no hot water for 2 wks. My rent is bi-monthly and is due tomorrow. My landlord does not respond with urgency to address the problem. I have looked over my lease to see if itspoke of maint issues, but it does not. I live in a rink dinky apt. building, but can not afford to move. Do I have the legal right to only pay a portion of the rent because I consider it a half### apt. w/o hot water? Or do I have the leagl right to ask to be move into another apartment on site that has hot water? I am the only apartment w/o hot water. Please advise me what my options are leaglly. I definatly feel I should not be paying full price on an apartment that does not hav ehot water. I am not trying to get out of paying, I would really rather have hot water, but she does not seem to be trying to get it fixed and I feel I need to give her some incentive to get it done. Calling her and going by everyday does not seem to be working. Is there an agency i can report this to? HELP!

Please advise,
Michelle
From Galena Park, TX<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Send L a certified letter stating that you are withholding your rent until the heater is fixed or have the heater fixed and use your rent money to pay for the repair. Give L a copy of the invoice with a letter stating that your rent money was used to repair the heater. I could understand 2-3 days if the plumbers are busy but 2 weeks is not right and uncalled for. L is in default.