Lease Buy out

[Jacksonw]

Hi. We are having a problem. My fiance and I moved into an apartment from across the country and it wasn't what we hoped for. There was a lot of drug activity, Bugs, the oven doesnt preheat to make food and other minor issues like torn screens. We told the landlord about all of these issues and sent them a 60 day notice of vacation using the buy out option in our lease where we pay 2 months rent plus the rent for 60 days totalling 3400$. (They also let the community dumpster literally overflow into the parking lot before having the trash removed.

My question is do I still have to keep paying the landlord considering it has been one full month and nobody has came to fix the oven at all? I'm in Charlotte NC and state law says the landlord is liable for fixing appliances after a written notice. Should I keep paying all of this money?

Thank You
Bill

 

[Jacksonw]

Re:

Also, the landlord stopped contact with us immediately after mentioning the buy out. We have sent them 2-3 emails with nothing in return

 

[Gail in Georgia]

"Should I keep paying all this money?"

Do you mean rent or the buy out clause/early lease termination fee?

If rent, only if you wish to avoid an eviction on your credit record.

While the landlord is required to maintain/repair appliances supplied in the rental unit, North Carolina does not have statutes that give tenants options (such as "repair and deduct") if these are not adequately addressed by the landlord. In addition, having a non-working oven/range is not going to be viewed by the court as making the rental unit "uninhabitable" as would an issue such as a significant roof leak or sparking electrical issue.

You mention letting your landlord know of the repair issues and the buy out clause but later mention sending emails. Have you done this contact in WRITTEN form (a letter, perhaps sent registered mail) or has all this been through emails?

Gail

 

[STEPHAN]

sent them a 60 day notice

Bill, how did you do that?