code violation, illegal attitions, changing the lease

[eahick]

I am California. I am currently renting a two bedroom home for $1200. A building and safety inspector has confirmed and reported major violaions in this property. One of the bedrooms is in code violation and is a carport converted into an illegal bedroom addition. Also, the laundry and storage room is an illegal addition. Lastly, the laundry waste drains directly into the backyard. I told the landlord I would be late with my January rent and have not paid yet. should I pay her? Should I try to negotiate with her to change my rent? Or should I take her to smal claims court for legal misconduct and renting under false pretenses. The landlord also changed my lease without my consent and sent me a copy of the changed lease.

 

[djdj]

One she has no legal reason to change the lease...but YOU did not leave with a signed lease at the beginning.so who's fault is that?

You will learn a lesson from this do not trust any landlord who will mail it to ya!

You have to spend some time and research this your self,go to the top of this page "state resource" and look under CA, and type in code violation, illegal apartment, those kinds of things..

I know here in New York, you would be able starting this month to withold the rent until the place is made legal, or she would have to evict you for non payment, and your defense is it is illegal construction that is not on the Certificate of Occupancy..and a judge would not allow her to collect back rent, and only rent foward when it is made legal

 

[djdj]

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?WAISdocID=0872516976+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

try reading this especially section 1942