Notice to Repair

When a lease agreement is coming to an end and it is not being renewed, a tenant could use a notice of intent to vacate to inform the landlord of the intent to vacate the property at the end of the lease. This is a standard procedure as it is customary to give a landlord sufficient time to find a new tenant. In practice, however, a landlord will actively try to find out if a tenant intends to stay longer, so this notice is not always required on behalf of the tenant.

The notice of termination is used when a tenant wants to leave the lease agreement before it expires. The reasons may vary and could be anything on the part of the tenant. But it could also be that the landlord failed to meet repair obligations. In any event, the notice of termination will outline the sender’s situation and the reason for terminating the agreement.

When a landlord receives a Notice of Repair from a tenant, he or she should first acknowledge that the problem before proceeding to rectify it. Most importantly, the landlord should tend to the problem within a reasonable time frame. In doing so, the landlord may need a notice to enter to go inside the property and take care of whatever needs taking care of.

In every state, landlords are expected to provide tenants with essential habitability requirements. That means access to electricity, heat, water, weatherproofing, sanitation, and structural safety, at the least. Eliminating asbestos, mold, and lead hazards also fall under the purview of landlords, in addition to any smoke detectors, lighting, and electrical wiring as pursuant to state law.

The tenant may be on the hook for the repair if he or she is responsible for the damage. The landlord may even arrange for the repair, if it makes better sense, and request reimbursement from the tenant later.