breaking lease due to inhabitable conditions

[STRSEDOUT]

ok, this will probably be a bit wordy, but it's the only way i can explain the situation...bare with me. i had found a lower level duplex to rent and was in a bit of a bind(living at a hotel with my 2 small children) and was shown this place that had been recently vacated, and looked at it for a total of less than 5 minutes(my first mistake) and was told i could move in immediately if i wanted to clean and live there until the repairs were done that the previous renters had caused....major holes in living room walls...including a hole in one wall where you could actually see the whole bathtub. a problem that she said was obviously the first priority. well after i signed the lease and paid the security deposit and 1st mon. rent, i walked through the house and realized there were A LOT more problemms that i saw on the surface.....mice,visible electrical wiring,leaking toilet into the basement,broken window(s)tile coming up in bathroom and kithchen(my daughter even fell because of the kitchen)just major structural problems that i hadn't seen until i was in the house. my major question is, can i get my security deposit/1stmon rent back....i have not moved in and do not feel safe, but there is a year lease and do not know what to do. i just feel as though she took advantage of me because she knew i was in a desparate situation. any advice would be greatly appreciated. thank you( i live in the state of indiana)

 

[djdj]

OK where is the Father.....and why dont you contact HIS family and see if they have any MONEY..... I cant believe the GRANDPARENTS would WANT you to live in a SLUM..

SO I dont get it, single 3 kids hotel, desperate.....uhhhh what about family values??????

Wont Anyone will put you up and help you out?

You got ripped off, you have to sue the landlord in small claims court for your money back,

Why not call the zoning dept., the health dept an see how many inspectors you can get over there....it is a dangerous situation.

NOW why didnt you ask your family for help?

 

[STRSEDOUT]

thanks for the advice on family values djdj....it's greatly appreciated, and i didn't spill my life story, obviously i came to the wrong forum to get advice on the subject.....i thought the subject was about the law....guess i was wrong...i'll remember that the next time i ever have a LEGAL question...........................thanks again for the help strsedout

 

[djdj]

HEY sressssssed out.......

You got a practical,legal answer FAMILY FIRST.. THEN THE LANDLORD

You have to have a place to live, so you can start legal proceedings against the landlord, and be served with papers, and a hotel room is not going to cut it.

If they mail a letter, and you are not here, or cant have anyone sign for it, OR if you are to appear in COURT....AND YOU ARE LATE then you LOSE BY DEFAULT...

So the most practical legal advice, is find a family member who will put you up for a few months, and who will watch the kids when you have to go to court.

 

[STRSEDOUT]

ok djdj, i completely understand what you are saying, but the the problem with that is that their father passed away and there is no family member i can stay with, otherwise i would have done that already, so basically i'm pretty much going to be out of luck and not be able to get out of this.....thanks anyway

 

[djdj]

It still goes back to the same answer, anyone in your family can lend you some money, how about HIS parents? they dont want to see their grandkids hungry and cold... right?

Then maybe you can file a small cliams action and see about getting your money back....

I dunno.. maybe i have trusted my family to help out in times of emergency, and this is an EMERGENCY.

Good Luck