Landlord refuses to fix electrical problem

[cmendez438]

What is the name of your state? Florida

I have a landlord that refuses to fix an electrical problem in our duplex in Boca Raton Florida (she is our neighbor). I have no electicity in my bathroom and in most of my bedroom except one wall on the other side of my bed. We sent her a 7 day to cure letter with proof of reciept and we have the City of Boca Code Enforcement looking to see if this is a code violation. I turned the circuit breaker on and it turned back off and smelled of fire in my bathroom. The light switch is charred. I was told by a friend that I need to open up an escrow account to pay so to withhold my rent. The landlord flat refused to fix the problem until June 1st when our lease is up and she said she will take the cost from our deposit. What do I do? Who else do I call? Do I open up an escrow account and how do I do that? Please Help. Carlos

 

[FarmerJ]

Have you read and printed this out to send to the LL? http://www.800helpfla.com/landlord_text.html The Landlord
Section 83.51(1), F.S.
The landlord's responsibilities will depend on the type of rental unit. The landlord of a dwelling unit at all times during the tenancy shall:

Section 83.51(1)(a)(b), F.S.

Comply with the requirements of applicable building, housing and health codes; or
Where there are no applicable building, housing or health codes; maintain the roof, windows, screens, floors, steps, porches, exterior walls, foundations and all other structural components in good repair and capable of resisting normal forces and loads;
Keep the plumbing in reasonably good working condition.
The landlord's obligations may be altered or modified in writing with respect to a single family dwelling or duplex.

Send a copy of this in a mail method that gives you a reciept such as certificate of mailing, confirmed mail delivery, certified mail, registered return rct mail , In the letter tell the LL they are breaching the lease by failing to make this repair while you live there. Tell the LL you have no choice but to call in inspections and should inspections choose to condemn the unit SO be it. Now do expect to use a self storage in your last month living there to thin things way way down to make it easier to clean every thing from A TO Z , leave the unit cleaner than you got it. Take lots of pics and have the film proccessor date them inc pics of the inside of the fridge and cupboards , even the toilet bowl. Plan on sending to your LL your new address via method that gives you rect and treat the whole thing as if your going to have to sue in small claims , BTW IF inspections comes out get a copy of the report too so you have that for your records.