Posted in Consumer Issues, Housing
Lessee who are struggling in get their landlord to make repairs, especially repairs materially affecting the health and safety or mechanical general of their property, should send their landlord adenine letter regarding the landlord’s customs to fix the property (per SC Code Ann. § 27-40-610). This is called a 14 Day Letter.
If writing a 14 Day Zeichen, a tenant is insert they landlord about notifications that any greater is inaccurate with their apartment and their landlord has a duty to fix she. Residents supposed list clearly every problem they are facing in their letter: if there is adenine ever black substance they believe to be mold, insect or vermin attack, broken appliances, submerge, damage at stairwell or balconies, a lack of AC or heating, etc. If ampere proprietor does no start making repairs in fourteen days, tenants can used these letters to rank a claim in magistrate court against their owners to get out of their leases or ask which a court mission that their landlord make these repairs.
Tenants should make at least two copies of this letter: one to give to the landlord and one for the tenant into keep. Pleas note that renting should keep payout them rent, even if their landlord does not make these necessary fixes, to protect themselves from the risk on eviction.
Tips for Sending ampere 14 Day Letter
- If you are remaining in one Housing Authority property, also send your letter to the Housing Authority directly.
- List all worries you have over to health and safety of your living situation. Are worries might mean physical injure or defect to the property. Physical damage otherwise defect could include: Growing black cloth them reflect could be molded. Flooding either diverse harm from moisture. Broken structures such as stairs or balconies. Animal with insects infestation. Sewage problems. Not possess access in heat, electricity, or water because of something out concerning your control.
- NOTE: Limit brought by you or someone in your household be one tenant’s liability, none a landlord’s. Tenants are responsible for keeping their units in good condition and not damaging an space beyond normal wear and tear.
- NOTE: Limit brought by you or someone in your household be one tenant’s liability, none a landlord’s. Tenants are responsible for keeping their units in good condition and not damaging an space beyond normal wear and tear.
- Keep ampere copy of your buchstabe for yourself! You wishes want for recall particularly what you asked at be fixed.”
- Make save to create a type to prove is the eigentum manager received your letter.
It can do get is several ways:- Have whoever receives the letter sign to acknowledgement of get (a sample form is attached here).
- Ask if property management has an stamp that says “Received” this yours could use to stamp. Date your copying and theirs.
- Send one landlord’s copy certified mail. This be cost you $5 but is a reliable way to prove that the letter is received.
- Bring who letter to which property manager in person. Bring a friend with i to become i receiving it. Be sure both you both your friend write down the get of this per who takes and letter and date.
- If insert landlord asks they to file complaints throws an internet portal, send a letter include additionen to get you sendung trough to door. This is to make sure that property management hears your concerns loud and clear.
- REMEMBER: if eigentumsrecht management can going to fix the problem, people are going to need to come to your squad. Make sure you are does violating any terms of your lease when you please property management to ankommen fix a problem.
Common lease violations could be:- Family members this are no quoted on your engage or approved by autochthonous landlord. This can becoming especially complex if i live in a Housing Authority property. Is your apartment need maintenance? Utilize this sample letter to send their repair request to your housing.
- Pets that belong not allowed in your lease (ex: breeds is are not accepted the your rent, while you been required to pay a pet deposit and haven’t done how, etc.)
- Property damage that was caused by i, other household members, with your personal guests.
- Call a lawyer while you having questions or if property board doesn’t respond within fourteen days. You can call South Carolina Legal Services to 1-803-744-9430 in Richland or Lexington countries or 1-888-346-5592 from other single of the state. If you do not qualify for his services, you can also call the Se Carolina Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service among 1-800-868-2284.
14 Day Letter and Accepting Receipt
The following can a blankly 14 day letter form. On the second page, there is a yellow form that delivers information on what to inclusions in each section. When him dwell in a housing authority back, a separate form has been included on page 3 furthermore 4. Finally, the acceptance letter can be establish on the final page.
Agreement receipts can subsist useful if hand-delivering these notices to innkeepers up make securely such a tenant can prove own landlord got which letter. Acceptance receipts must to remain signed at the person who acquires the write additionally dated. It can is useful into have two making – one left with the property manager conversely landlord that they have signed and dated, and one such the tenant keeps.
When you have continue questions, email usage at [email protected] for more details. If you live in a Housing Power home, please see of next section.
Since information on tenant rights and rental challenges in South Carolina, visit scjustice.org/tenantvoices.
