Landlord/rental/etc?

Is this legal...

I've been living in someones home- renting it... but there is NO lease. All i had was a written agreement that I could stay here for one year... but no conditions or anything.

ANyway, the sewer system backed up- literally human waste on the floors of the basement... water all over the place, etc.

I called and told the owner that it happened. She came over and cleaned it up, and told me to "Poop outside in a bucket" (I'm serious, here) until it was fixed. Two months later, nothing had changed- nothing was fixed. And I had been going to other peoples houses to go to the bathroom, and driving to a convienence store at night when I had to go. (Fun!)

Anyway, after I complained about it again, she came over with two guys (like security guards) telling me I had 30 days to get out....and the two guys were verbally attacking me.. about the sewer.

Can't anything be done?

Go find a new place, it is a nice place Why stay Leave!

unfortunately she can move you out but you do have recourse.
Call the housing inspector in your city as well as health inspector. Take pictures of the filth in there and have it as proof for when this goes to court if it should. Do not pay any rents this lady doesn't deserve any rent. Also call the police and report you have been threatened verbally and fear for your life from your landlord sending over thugs to beat you up. This is a great civil law suit and I see money in your pocket at the end of the tunnel. stay strong and get a lawyer.
A good judge will take this landlord to the wood shed. you may consider also getting a tape recorder to tape any conversations you have with landlord in the future. Keep it hidden in pocket. They have nice digital ones at the office max for about 50 bucks. If you had that statement poop in a bucket outside on tape and played it in court to a judge that landlord would be fried even more then they are now!
The bottom line is call housing inspector and health inspector now! you should right away move out but make sure you sue landlord in small claims court for security deposits and rents you paid during this time period when toilet did not work. The place should be condemned unless they fix problem right away. Its a health hazard with waste in the basement and if its me I would pay the 100 bucks to file in small claims court against my landlord for my last months rent and security deposit. Remember if you prevail in court you get filing fees,court costs back. Hang in there and be tough demand from the landlord some serious moneys off the rent or you plan to sue him for damages done to you being forced to live in the human waste. Tell the landlord he has one chance to fix this problem and pay you back one months rent for his making you suffer or you will sue him for several thousand dollars and win very easily. Also if you sue in small claims court for less then 20 bucks you can file a docket and place a lien on his property and he cannot buy or sell real estate in that county without paying your judgment off.
Use our justice system to exact some retribution to this dirt bag. I have been a landlord for 17 years and had 100's of units and only one unit had a human waste issue I toke care of it that very day replaced the sewer stack and installed a brand new toilet and also had my maintenance crew scrub walls down that day it happened with bleach water to clean up mess and make sure tenants had livable conditions. People just have to be better to there customers is the bottom line.
Get vigilant you have rights as a tenant and use your rights.
If security guards threatened me I'm going right to the police and saying office i feared for my life I was threatened and want to place a police report. If I get my behind beaten I want it on record I made a police report. This way the law understands whats going on. having things like this on record for civil suit helps your case.

Why would you even consider living there under such conditions. Call the health department- lodge a complaint. If the thugs appear again-- 911- threats

Call your municipal code enforcement officer, your county health department, and the local newspaper bright an early tomorrow morning....

A residence must be deemed habitable to be rent-able; potable water, sewer, heater, and even stove-top are usually required for someone to occupy any dwelling....

But then I would have called the police as soon as the goon squad showed up at my front door.....

I wouldn't have waited more than a day or two living with those unsanitary conditions. You made it 2 months...call the city housing department...you cant get evicted without a notice.

Technically, you do have a lease, however, it would be very difficult to prove in court without hardcore evidence. The landlord tenant laws lean more towards tenants, but would not it be easier to move out and find a better landlord? Courts, time off work,....And still just to prove your point afterwads?

Well a written agreement for a year is a lease. They have to comply with local and county codes. The Landlords are responsible for maintenance and taxes. She has to give you a proper, written notice to vacate, but I don't see how they can evict you on those grounds. Your talking about a human health code violation. I would call the dept of health about this problem. If they don't fix the problem, the county may condemn the property, and then no one will use it. If it hasn't been a year, you are entitled to at least that, and she will have to make it livable. Legally she cannot do a strong arm eviction or a self eviction. It violates housing rights. I would take it to the County health dept. and ask them what they would advise.

You should have a written contract, written lease or anything on paper to prove you were renting.
If you have, go to see your council for advices and protect your rights. Also, when is that year ending?
(If you don't, then as far as it stands, you are "unlawfully" staying there (even if you're paying the rent)., so count your lost and move somewhere where you sign a written agreement.)
Question: how do you pay your rent? If it's from bank to bank, then you may use that as prove.
Also, why don't you buy a camping loo, better than going out, until it's fixed or better accommodation.

I used to be landlord, and even lodgers renting only a room had a written agreement.

First, THAT IS OUTRAGOUS! You poor thing! Go on line and read the tenant-landlord act for your state... if you have a contract that says you can stay for one year...that is a lease (of sorts). The landlord has just so many days to fix a thing like a sewer (I think here it is 48hrs), so you may have some rent coming back to you for your home being "out of service". Plus, she has to serve you a 30 day written notice, not a verbal notice and she can not intimidate you with the "guards". I would move and then take her to small claims court for rent of months that the bathroom was not usable and moving expenses. I believe this is within your rights to do. Or join prepaid legal for $16 and then ask the attorney for advice....

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