Did the Landlord break the lease and de we have to pay back rent/damages????

[yankeeindesouth]

This is what I know.. I left my apartment on December 19th to go away for the Christmas holiday, we were due back the day after Christmas. My fiance who is on my lease and was living with me called his relatives back in Virginia the following night. That night we were told that the landlady not only went into our home without our knowledge or permission but also let members of his family into our apartment. I should tell you that this apartment was in what would be a basement apartment in a private home, next to a dirt floor where her washing machines and junk collected over the years were. Also she let people take our possesions out of the apartment without our knowledge or permission. My fiancee's family took all of his belongings but since I have issues with them all of my personal belongings were thrown out. In our lease that we had there was no mentioning of the LandLady being able to enter our apartment without us knowing. There was only a doorknob lock on the doors and she (landlady) had the spare key. We believed that she presviously went into our apartment and looked thru our things so we left a few dirty dishes and clothes around to see if things were moved while we were away. Susequently we were told that we were evicted without notification and now are being taken to court for damages to teh apartment; damages that she made record of being there before we took the apartment. Also.. what would the housing regualtions be? It was a concrete floor with no insulation just a rug put on the floor and plenty of plumbing problems.. the windows were broke so we could barely open them and there were no heaters only 2 space heaters she supplied.. is that legal?? I was constantly ill while living there.. What I'm trying to ask is.. What am I responsible for and what if anything can I do?!?!
Thank you and please help

[Edited by yankeeindesouth on 01-24-2001 at 01:28 AM]