Rent withholding

Some states let you stop paying rent until your landlord fixes a major problem. This tool is called rent withholding. It is not legal everywhere. Where it is legal, strict steps apply, such as waiting a set number of days after notice. Check your state's guide before you withhold any rent.

For very serious problems, you may stop paying rent until repairs happen. Talk to a lawyer before you do this. Do not spend the held back rent. Put the full rent in a separate bank account each month and leave it there. This shows the court you held the money over repairs, not because you could not pay.

If you hold back rent, match the amount to how much of your home is affected. If one room is 25 percent of your space, hold back 25 percent of a $800 rent, which is $200. Put the rent you hold back in the bank. Do not spend it. A judge is more likely to accept your defense if the money is still there.