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I'm a first time renter and have some concerns about my apartment. Please help me.?

My landlord never had me sign a lease. I put the deposit down and pd my first month rent. I noticed there arent even any sink stoppers in the kitchen. Should I just buy this or should i contact the landlord. Sounds stupid but i don't really know. I believe that there is asbestos in the electric box which is old dusty wires held together with black electrical tape. All but a few of the door knobs are in terrible but slightly usable condition. Should i ask him to repair/replace them or just live with it. Also, there is only one battery operated smoke detector in the house. i have two floors and one detector. And the downstairs door is cracked it looks like the glass could fall out any time and you have to be careful closing it because the glass rattles so much. Could I have a little advice. This may be silly to some but I've never really been here before and like i said i never did sign a lease so am i responsible or the landlord. Also, there's an issue of fire safety if there's a fire we have no way out of the house. The apt is on the second and third floor. Since i didn't sign a lease should i just continue with the apt hunting?

Public Comments

1. No leasing agreement, no requirement to stay. I hope you didn't put down a deposit.
2. Put it in writing to your LL, nice, polite, businesslike letter. State that you have noticed the following problems since taking occupancy. Request that LL remedy the problems within two weeks. Not everything you noted is something a LL MUST take care of, but by putting LL on notice and putting it in writing, you are protecting yourself when you move out. The mere presence of asbestos is not a violation of law, and doorknobs aren't a big issue unless they don't latch, or could lock you in. The absence of smoke detectors on every floor is a definite violation, and most areas require a CO2 detector too, particularly in rental units. If this is a legal apartment, there generally must be two means of ingress/egress. You say there's no way out of the house, there must be at least one way, the way you get in, but there should be a second, as well. Local housing department can advise. YOU failed to do your due diligence BEFORE renting the apartment. You needed to check out these issues before, and if anything needed attention, request LL fix it BEFORE moving in (when you have most leverage). With no written lease, you are a month to month tenant, covered by your state law. Most require that you or LL give each other 30 days advance notice (before date rent is due) of changes in tenancy (move out, rent increase).
3. There probably should be a fire escape. Contact the local building department or the local fire department to find out. Make a list of all your concerns at present it to the landlord in writing. Include the lack of a fire escape.
4. Did you get a receipt? It all sounds fishy. You have no proof you are renting the place. Get out as fast as you can. I hope you go a receipt.
5. well kim you painted your self into a corner, ALWAYS GET IT IN WRITING!! your landlord & yourself should have done a pre-checklist inspection of the place before you forked overany money( ding) now it is your word vs his and your money is up in smoke! this guy sounds like a cheapskate....if i was you i would ask him to ...no let me take that back demand he fix all of the above or you will report him to the health board/county services deptment give him 90 days to make the improvements,and then file a law suit aganist him/ MAKE A LONG LIST OF ALL THE PROBLEMS!! take pictures too!
6. Have you moved in? Did you get a rent receipt? Why did you put a deposit on it if the place is in such bad condition? You must ask the landlord to fix all those things before you move in. Without a lease, you have no proof that you are legally entitled to live there. Why did you pay the first month's rent before you moved in? You should have had some advice first. If you dont move in, you have lost all that money.
7. May I ask where you are located? I am ijn Melbourne Australia and as tenants here we have many rights and obligations. I have included a link which lists them. Before a lease is signed we must complete a condition report which lists an damage to the property before new tenant moves in. This document is signed by the renter and the landlord. This protects the tenant from being blamed for the previous damage. You may find some helpful information in the pages I have listed. Hope this helps.