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Delaware rental rules? what can be done with celling collapsing, flooding and mold?

I have a friend in Delaware who lives with his elderly grandmother. They rent a house. The mother is distant and is in charge of the paperwork, power of attorney, etc. The roof is currently collapsing and there is flooding in the basement with mold. I don't know the entire situation, but apparently, the Landlord isn't doing anything.

What else can they do?

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InHeaven · F

First, Make sure the lease is signed and no rent owed so they can not get kicked in court ( their protection, makes them look like great tenants in front of judge). Then take photos and go to the their local city landlord-tenant court website, open a case in minutes “sue landlord for repairs”. When the landlord gets that court letter in mail , he will run to fix the things fast. Also, there is usually in court provided attorney for free inside court room, he can go there and ask him legal questions. Also, if they are low income or disabled they can probably get a fee waver for the fee to open the court case.

sweetiepoo · 36-40, F

@InHeaven I told him something similar, but because his mom is somewhat out of the picture, and had the lease, he doesn't think anything can be done. I don't know why she didn't give him a copy. Hr is a grown man.

InHeaven · F

@sweetiepoo well if he goes to court...he can tell the judge to request his mother bring the lease to court and she will or the landlord. Otherwise things will not get done. They might start getting all kings of lung diseases from breathing in mold.

Zaphod42 · 51-55, M

They should get a NOLO tenets rights book for their area. It’ll lay out all their current rights under the law. They can also get the landlords rights book which lays out everything a landlord can do to counter anything the tenets rights book lists.

sweetiepoo · 36-40, F

@Zaphod42 thanks.

2cool4school · 46-50, F

Delaware, where common sense doesn’t seem to have taken root…

nedkelly · 61-69, M

Type in to Google

Delaware Landlord Tenant Rights

Northwest · M

The remedy for a renter, usually, is to stop paying rent, or leave.

trackboy · 22-25, M

Burn the land lord and his family by burning at the stake

MrBrownstone · 46-50, M

Withhold rent.

carpediem · 61-69, M

Move

SW-User

Landlord/tenant rights..
https://ipropertymanagement.com/laws/delaware-landlord-tenant-rights

I believe you already have cause not to pay full rent until the house has the ceiling repaired.
Call an attorney and ask.
See if you have any place close to you that deals with tenants and landlord issues.

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