Chye Isuel:
In reply to Narrator (msg # 175):
and we're withholding rent
Very important!! Check your state and local laws to be sure, but in most states, just withholding the rent puts the landlord within rights to evict you and send all the remaining rent due for your lease period into collection. What you're likely required to do is
put the rent amount into an escrow account to be paid to the landlord when repairs are completed, often less a
pro-rata deduction for the period when the premises were legally uninhabitable (i.e. unsafe due to electrical faults or fire code violations, lacking electrical, water or sewer service due to landlord's negligence or malfeasance, etc.).
The important point here is that
you need to be able to prove you had the rent to pay on or before the date it was due, and still have it available at all times from then until the situation is resolved.