Problem with landlord repair, security deposit, abuses

By Eudes

Hi,
I’m looking for a lawyer who can help me.
My case is about my last landlord/landlady. I rented a house that had many problems included leak, heating, blocked toilets, and more.
I had to move in four months, before the end of lease because of the situation of the house. Before of that I called the Enforcement Code. My dog and I got sick because of the house. We passed the last hard winter living in a house without heating. I know we are in Florida, but the last winter was very hard even in Florida.
The landlady didn’t return my security deposit. Moreover she threatened me because of my immigration status (I’m an illegal immigrant). Also she libelled me and invented lies to blame me for breaking things in her house.
I tried to get my money back by myself and by the Consumer Protection but she denied. Then I filed a claim in a court. We had a mediation last week but she lied because she’s  feigned.
According to her, I broke the lease, then she wants me to pay her two months of rent. But I didn’t break the lease, she did it violating the law. Her house wasn’t appropriate to live in and I was very patient living there for 98 days with many, many problems, waiting for her to do the repairs. That was the reason for me to move out of her house.
I have all of the proofs, photos and witnesses to prove that her house wasn’t appropriate to live in.
I don’t speak English very well, my first language is Portuguese. I really need a lawyer but cannot find one.
I really want win this case to show to the landlady that I’m an illegal immigrant but I have my rights in this country when I’m doing things correctly. All of the illegal immigrants have their rights.
Could you help me? If not, could you recommend me any lawyer, please? I’ll appeciate it.
Thank you veru much.

Edited on: Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 7:09 pm

2 Responses to “Problem with landlord repair, security deposit, abuses”

My response: (We welcome stories, examples, explanations, answers and a touch of your personality)
 

red3823

October 6th, 2010 7:01 pm

I love how you make it clear that you are an illegal immigrant BUT somehow feel entitled to rights. Who cares if you are illegal or not?! Personally, I disagree and think you shouldn’t have any rights, especially when it comes to requesting free legal aide paid for by tax payers.

You have right to a safe living environment. You do not have any right to use any tax payer funded services, regardless of what you think your rights are. If you want to talk about rights, why not pay your share?

Maybe you can count your deposit as a tax towards living here illegally. If I were really harsh, I would encourage your landlord to report you to immigration officials.

Please stop wasting tax payers dollars. Like the above poster said– move on. Get real!!


anonymous

October 6th, 2010 6:25 pm

There are things you have to do in order to get out of a lease early. Based on your post, it sounds like you left early for valid reasons… but unless you followed legal protocal; you’re out of luck.

You should have hired an attorney when all of this was going on, not after the fact. You have created bigger problems for yourself and most likely no attorney is going to take your case. Is it really worth the fight to get a deposit back? Most attorney’s charge $300 per hour… So even if your deposit is $2,000 it would still cost you more to hire an attorney than your deposit is worth.

Move on!


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