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[gall]

I live in pa, and have rented a basement for 14 years. I consider the landlords family. They visited often and complimented the improvements. The husband told me for the past 10 years that the only way to get the roof to quit leaking and stop the black mold, was to put a house on top of the basement. He said, bear with me a little longer and then showed plans for the house and said the money was waiting at the bank. They ended up buying 2 additional houses to rent out instead. I told them that the roof was leaking through the light fixture in the bathroom ceiling. He kept trying to put more metal on it. it still is leaking and the ceiling is weak and the light is hanging out. I also had to very remove most of the carpeting because they were wet because water was coming through the floors as well a the walls, producing black mold. Now the electric breakers trip and sizzle when you turn them back on. When we found a house rent to own, all they need was a reference from my landlord of 14 years. The real estate agent asked why I was moving after all this time and I told her. We were told to give our landlords a 30 day notice, which we did. The wife seemed upset, folded her arms and kept looking down. When she was called about the reference, she said we would not be able to afford to move there, and said they would not hold us to the 30 day notice, and we were more than welcome to stay...and said they would never put me out. When the real estate agent mentioned our living conditions, the landlady got defensive and said they would not put more money into fixing it with the way we have been keeping it up! After all these years telling me it looked nice! Now the people will not deal with us on there house at all. When our landlord was reminded about the electric, he said that they are not fixing it and we have to be out by April 1st! We are on a farm, we have pets, they stopped us from getting the house we already found. How are we gonna find another house in the country that will rent to own? They also own a trailer up the road. They called a man that used to work for them and asked him to move here from massachusetts , and they had a trailer he could rent. Without getting into all of that mess, he had to move back to massachusetts to take care of his dad. They said a lot of nasty things about him and sent him a bill for $3000.00. My husband watched this man clean and scrub carpets 4 times. Now I am afraid they will do the same to us. Anyone have any ideas of how to protect myself from that, or know any laws or things I could charge them with to match amount they ask for? I can't believe they did this to me...I love these people!

[elton]

It is never illegal to tell the truth.

[wynn]

Landlords are not legally required to give you a reference at all. Giving you a bad reference if one is not earned is rude but not illegal.

It IS illegal to charge you for any repairs you did not cause. The landlord is legally required to give you a list of charges with in 14-45 days depending on state. If you disagree with any of the charges you have every right to dispute them in court. The landlord would then have to prove you caused what you were charged for & show invoices proving the costs.

[kirklin]

Landlords are not legally required to give you a reference at all. Giving you a bad reference if one is not earned is rude but not illegal.

It IS illegal to charge you for any repairs you did not cause. The landlord is legally required to give you a list of charges with in 14-45 days depending on state. If you disagree with any of the charges you have every right to dispute them in court. The landlord would then have to prove you caused what you were charged for & show invoices proving the costs.

It is legal for them to say anything that is true. They are notlegally obligated to give you a reference AT ALL.

[francisco]

The problem is because it's rent to own the owner can ask any question they want & the landlord can say whatever they want. If you were doing a regular mortgage a mortgage company can only ask about your payment history. Rent to owns are not a good idea anyway... Seems to me you are living in a non-safe home anyway, I would take pictures of the mold etc. & get someone to sign an affidavit about the electric... I seriously doubt they will get any additional money from you, but I would use someone else as a reference in the future.