My apartment came with a refrigerator that broke last month. It took 10 days and me threatening to buy another refrigerator and deduct the cost from rent before he finally came over and moved another refrigerator from a vacant apartment downstairs. I had a bunch of food I had just bought spoil. I had to re-buy food and spend even more money to eat out since I have 2 kids and babysit 2 more.

I deducted the amount of the groceries lost and the added expense of eating out since it took a week and a half to get a working refrigerator again. However, he expects the full amount and is now charging me late fees for not paying the full amount on time.

I am moving out at the end of the month. since thank god my lease is finally up. I waited over 2 weeks for him to fix my phone when I first moved in. He has never fixed the broken stairs outside, this place is a mess. I am actually trying to leave on good or at least nuetral terms, but I really don't want to be screwed over by being overcharged.

How much can I deduct for the lack of a working refrigerator for 10 days?

Some states, TN and NJ for sure, do not require the apartment to even have a fridge... I am unsure about your particular state. The thing is that some of these laws are really old and at one point a fridge was a luxury, like having a microwave. So, the landlord may not be required to have a working one available is basically my point.

Thanks for at least replying. I moved here from California, and there I know for a fact that you can deduct your food from rent if this situation occurs. I used to work with management companies there. I have been searching all over for an answer as to here in Michigan. I have even tried to call my landlord to try talk with him about it, but he won't return my calls.

1. You are not in California anymore
2. You did not go through normal "repair and deduct" and "rent withholding" state procedures, if there are any in Michigan.
3. Even if the apartment came with a frig, the lease may indicate that it is "on loan"and you are responsible for it's repair.
4. In most states landlord is responsible for one working phone line, repairs of phone will fall under the lease agreement.

My apartment came with a refrigerator that broke last month. It took 10 days and me threatening to buy another refrigerator and deduct the cost from rent before he finally came over and moved another refrigerator from a vacant apartment downstairs. I had a bunch of food I had just bought spoil. I had to re-buy food and spend even more money to eat out since I have 2 kids and babysit 2 more.

I deducted the amount of the groceries lost and the added expense of eating out since it took a week and a half to get a working refrigerator again. However, he expects the full amount and is now charging me late fees for not paying the full amount on time.

I am moving out at the end of the month. since thank god my lease is finally up. I waited over 2 weeks for him to fix my phone when I first moved in. He has never fixed the broken stairs outside, this place is a mess. I am actually trying to leave on good or at least nuetral terms, but I really don't want to be screwed over by being overcharged.

How much can I deduct for the lack of a working refrigerator for 10 days?

In most cases, if there is a working appliance in the rental, it is assumed that the rental comes with working appliances.

http://www.megalaw.com/mi/top/milandlord.php

Use this link to make your case. You should know to keep your recipts for the food.

Good luck.

Thank you very much.

Contact an attorney and get a free consultation. If nothing else, you will have some sort of an idea as to what you can and can't do. This eliminates all of this speculating. If you don't want to wind up in court over this mess, call an attorney and get the correct information.

Thank you, I believe I will. I am currently trying very hard to settle this amiably with my landlord. But it would be better to have the best information possible.

Thank you again.