If your landlord is not making repairs, you have legal options. If you are current with your rent, you can deposit your rent with the Clerk of Courts at your local municipal court. This is also known as escrowing your rent.
To do this, you must:
- Give your landlord notice in writing of what needs to be repaired. The notice can be on paper, in an email, or in a text message.
- Wait a reasonable time (but no more than 30 days) for your landlord to make the repairs.
If your landlord does not make the repairs, you can deposit your rent
- When you escrow your rent, you can also ask the court to order your landlord to make repairs. You can also ask the court to lower your monthly rent until your landlord makes the repairs.
We have fill-in-the-blank forms that you can use to start depositing your rent with the Clerk of Courts. Click below to access.
Application by Tenant to Deposit Rent with Clerk of Courts
Application by Tenant to Court for Order Directing Landlord to Remedy Conditions
Once you do that, you will bring your rent into the Clerk of Courts instead of paying your landlord directly.