- The landlord is required to keep the rental property in good living condition, meaning that systems for providing such things as running water and working electric must be in operational condition. If these items are not maintained or are turned off, you have the right to sue your lawyer to correct the issues.
- Before suing your landlord for violating your lease agreement, you must first notify him in writing of the situation or problem along with a list of specific actions you want taken. If your landlord has a management office you can hand-deliver the letter or you can mail the letter to him via certified mail. Keep a copy of the letter and date of delivery for your records.
- When taking your landlord to court you will have to provide sufficient evidence that things are not working and that you have given notification of the situation. Evidence can include photographs, letters, notes from conversations and phone calls. You will also need to keep a list of problems, actions taken to fix problems and which ones have not been taken care of. Make sure to keep documentation and a list of dates and times of all conversations.
- You can sue your landlord if, after moving out, you have not received your deposit or a reason why you have not received it within your state's required time frame. If there are reasons not to return the deposit, the landlord must send you a list detailing those reasons and what the resulting costs are. If you do not receive either this list or the deposit, you can sue for the amount of your security deposit and additional money allowed by your state.
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