LANDOWNER Refusal to repair causes single apt to be unfit for habitation

[monicaann]

My landlord refuses to fix anything and wants the entire building to be condemned and mowed down, a simple issue with not having electricity was code enforcement reason for condemning apartment. There are still two families in the building and I am still by law a tenant. What can I do to save my building? The local pud is requiring lni permit as the power was off in my apartment for a year while I was in another state caring for a parent that was dying. The pud refuses to turn power back on as if I did a complete rewire job under their nose without a permit. As I have spoken to most of the pud in my state and only a few apply this rule when necessary. The local pud seems to be angry I wasn't paying them their monthly account service fee of almost $50 plus taxes to keep my power on and choose to save my money instead. That fee does not include and power being used. If anyone can please tell me if I can save my building which is in really good shape and the rising cost of rentals locally will cause everyone living in my building to go straight to being homeless in a tent all three families. Please help

 

[monicaann]

I have had 3 different families I am related to rent from the same landlord and all in all we kept everything running smoothly for the last 12 years or more. When something broke we fixed it, faucet leak we would purchase a new faucet and replace, sewer line clog= we would rent the electric auger and fix our self. the owner of the building was very upfront that she wouldn't fix anything or do any maintenance ever. We mowed the lawn and planted and maintained the gardens on the property ourself. We have invested so much into the building that we don't want to see it tore down. We love our home. Please help...

 

[arwat23]

This seems like a question for r/legaladvice (or an actual lawyer).

What can I do to save my building?

This isn't really a code question, but my understanding is that the landlord needs to fix the issues. Once something's been red tagged, it's basically unusable until the code issues are addressed.

There was an apartment building in my area that was just red tagged for a bunch of violations. The CBO said it wasn't fit for human habitation (bunch of non-permitted construction, incomplete construction, overdue maintenance, and unsafe electrical conditions), so all tenants were forced to move out within 5 days.

When something broke we fixed it, faucet leak we would purchase a new faucet and replace, sewer line clog= we would rent the electric auger and fix our self.

Why? Isn't that the landlord's responsibility?

We have invested so much into the building that we don't want to see it tore down.

That's unfortunate, because you are not the owners. The landlord is, and the landlord can tear the building down if they choose to (provided they follow, or abuse, all applicable laws to the area). All your investments and work you did were essentially free labor for the landlord.

As much as it sucks to say, don't invest in something you don't own unless you're okay with losing it.