Submitted by mamatealhearts t3_zbzw0d in massachusetts
Hello. This is the 3rd time in 2 weeks that the heat went out at night. We text landlord, and he comes sometime mid-morning, does something to get it running. He told us itll be a few weeks till a part arrives but no other info.
How much rent am I allowed to withhold for each day? Rent/30 days? Or a partial days worth? Does the law back us up?
I should note Im pregnant with a toddler, so when the heat goes out I sleep on the small mattress beside her hed with the space heater and its hard on me. And we are month to month. And heating is included in the rent.
Any advice? Do I just need to suck it up and not complain? Should we keep bugging him via text until he gives us more heating info? Withhold rent? Whats allowed and what would you do? Thanks.
PakkyT t1_iyu7oio wrote
You may withhold a portion of your rent if:
You have appealed to your landlord in writing to make the necessary repairs; or
Your local Board of Health has inspected your apartment and found health code violations and notified your landlord; or
You are current in your rent up until the time your landlord learns of the problem, you are not the cause of the problem, and the unsanitary conditions do not require the apartment to be vacated to make repairs.
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