Best Ways to Get Your Landlord to Make a Repair in Massachusetts
The best way to get something fixed in your apartment in Massachusetts is to hire a contractor and take the expense out of your rent for up to four months of rent payments.
If something is seriously wrong - or just annoying - in your apartment in Massachusetts then you're probably wondering how to get your landlord to fix it as fast as possible. It's your responsibility to tell them what's wrong as soon as you notice it. In an ideal world they'll fix it promptly, but what if they don't?
Once you've made a formal request, there are three things you can do to get your landlord in Texas to make necessary repairs.
- Leave without notice
- Stop paying rent
- Fix it yourself
As a last resort, you can also sue your landlord in small claims court. If your landlord's negligence is glaring and it's affecting multiple tenants then this route might make sense - especially if you and your neighbors are prepared to band together.
Leave without notice
If you want to leave anyways then you can break your lease without penalty fees assuming that the repair in question is clearly your landlord's responsibility. Otherwise this isn't the most convenient next step in Massachusetts.
Related: Constructive Eviction in Massachusetts
Withhold rent until it gets fixed
This requires more administrative work on your part, and there's no need to do it unless the problem would cost more than four months of rent to fix. It's within your right, though, to simply stop paying rent until the repair is made.
Related: Rent Withholding Laws in Massachusetts
Repair yourself and pay less rent
It may seem counterintuitive, but your best option to get your landlord to fix something in Massachusetts is actually to just fix it yourself. Going this route means you'll have a working home again in less time, and because you're allowed to deduct up to four months of rent for the repair this works even for serious problems
If the problem would cost more than four months of rent to fix you can at that point consider more serious and time-consuming options.
Related: Repair and Deduct Laws in Massachusetts
Next steps
Learn about what your landlord is responsible for in Massachusetts, how to legally request that they fix something, and get the details on repairing and deducting.
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.