month to month lease
I own my home, had a verbal agreement with a roommate (& $550 security; she moved in 4/1/06) that she pay the cleaning lady every 6 weeks and give me 30 days notice before vacating. Late November she told me she’d be moving out over the month of December. On 11/29/06 I reminded her that it was her turn to pay the cleaning lady and she sent me several emails that day saying that she was not paying the cleaning lady again and would be moving out ASAP. (She already paid December’s rent). She moved out on 12/1/06, locked the bedroom door and refuses to return the keys to the bedroom and the house. She left me a note and voice mail messages, stating that she won’t return the keys until I returned her security and December’s rent. I left her voicemails stating that I can’t return any money until I get the keys.

Now she’s suing me for December’s rent $550, her security $550, filing fees and items (a shower curtain, I’m assuming) left at the house for a total of $1,224.

She still has NOT returned the keys.

Can I counter sue her for January’s rent?

Can I deduct the $50 cleaning fee of November 29 & the price of a locksmith?

Thank you; I appreciate your time and assistance. My phone number is 609-731-3987

Leaking roof and mold
I wanted to know how long I needed to wait before taking action against my landlord for a leaking roof? I have been in the apartment for a little over a year and it has be leaking since the end of the first month that I moved in to it. I have called him and sent him several letters regarding the situation to no avail. Currently I have many leaking areas in the apartment as well as mold growing on the ceiling in a closet. My carpet in the moldy closet is constantly damp and when it rains it is wet and spreads into the rest of the room where the closet is located. The landlord did put a tarp on the roof but due to recent weather it has been torn to shreds and is useless. What can I do to get out of this situation without losing my security (1 1/2 months)? I have been told to just leave and give him no notice, not to pay my rent until he fixes it or escrow my rent until he fixes it. I am not sure since I am on a month to month lease.

Landlord/Former Tenant Dispute
Lease ended June of 2007, but
in May of 2007 I made a verbal
agreement to stay month to month as
long as I give 30 days notice. After a
bed bug outbreak happend twice (once
in 11/07 and again in 9/08) he called
exterminators to have it handled the
first time, but was reluctant the
second. After my 4 year old suffered
an allergic reaction to a bite,I decided
to send him my 30 day notice on
9/26/08 for me vacating on 10/31/08.
I did as promised, took pictures, place
was immaculate, then turned the keys
over to the super with my fiancée’s
dad as a witness. I did not receive my
deposit until 12/23/08. Came in the
form of 2 checks for $600, along with
2 copies of an ”Explanation of
Deductions” letter. In the letter was no
deductions, but a threat to sue me for
rent for 11/08 because he claims he
did not get his keys until 11/06, and
an extermination bill, both totaling
$1870.6 days after I deposited them,
he put a stop payment on 1 of the
checks. I would like to take him to
court, I have
timestamped pictures of the
apartment, my daughters leg, her
dermatology bills, copies of the deposit
checks, and the receipt for the deposit.