Cyprus-Forum.com

[36510]

I wonder what Cypriot law says if your landlord doesn´t fulfill their obligation to have repairs done to keep your rented place in order? E.g. if the washing machine in a fully furnished apartment fails or the aircon stops working. Can you have it repaired yourself and simply deduct the cost from the next rent payment? Would you have to give notice while threatening to do just that (if so, how much?)? Would you have to sue first (waiting a year or two to have it resolved? What does the law say?

[Maximus]

I wonder what Cypriot law says if your landlord doesn´t fulfill their obligation to have repairs done to keep your rented place in order? E.g. if the washing machine in a fully furnished apartment fails or the aircon stops working.

If it is due to normal wear and tear I believe he is liable, if it is broken through your negligence, you are liable.

Can you have it repaired yourself and simply deduct the cost from the next rent payment?

Not a good idea without the landloards approval first.

Would you have to give notice while threatening to do just that (if so, how much?)? Would you have to sue first (waiting a year or two to have it resolved? What does the law say?

Sue for what?

I am not a lawyer. Please refer to the terms of your rental contract.

If you dont like it, find somewhere else to live, give your notice and leave.

[Get Real!]

I wonder what Cypriot law says if your landlord doesn´t fulfill their obligation to have repairs done to keep your rented place in order? E.g. if the washing machine in a fully furnished apartment fails or the aircon stops working. Can you have it repaired yourself and simply deduct the cost from the next rent payment? Would you have to give notice while threatening to do just that (if so, how much?)? Would you have to sue first (waiting a year or two to have it resolved? What does the law say?

Tenant’s Rights Brochure for CYPRUS

http://www.tenlaw.uni-bremen.de/Brochur ... 052014.pdf

[Get Real!]

I am not a lawyer. Please refer to the terms of your rental contract.

If you dont like it, find somewhere else to live, give your notice and leave.

Your responses to such genuine concerns/questions are as useful as the bogey hanging out your grandma’s nostril.

* And I'm being very diplomatic about this.

[Maximus]

He asked about repairs. Everything else stemmed from that. The brochure says (2.2) he should refer to his contract regarding repairs.

I said if it is due to normal wear and tear then the landlord should be responsible for that and the brochure agrees with me. However, the brochure also says that the tennant should return the property to the landlord in the same condition as it was given to him. Therefor he is also responsible for that. so the brochure says he should refer to the terms of the rental contract because that is the crucial statute here.

Furthermore, he is talking about withholding rent and threatening to sue. If you read the brochure get real, you would have understood that the landlords only real obligation is to hand over the dwelling to the tennant.

If he doesnt like it that much he can leave and I am being very diplomatic about this.

[36510]

My question was against the background that my old (maybe current, I don´t even know for sure) landlord is in the process of swapping my apartment for another property and the soon-to-be new landlord is broke. She was so desperate that I paid my rent for December now already to help her out. According to verbal communication from her as well as my old landlord she is entitled to the rent with immediate effect (but I have nothing in writing yet as my old/current landlord is traveling until next month). Currently I only have minor problems which don´t cause me to loose sleep. I was just wondering what the legal situation is in case something breaks and the landlord is clearly obligated to fix it but can´t afford to. Even my old landlord was sometimes dragging his feet but I get a feeling that the new one will do that even more (not because she is malicious but simply because she doesn´t have enough funds to pay for repairs). How to proceed in such a case (short of moving)?

[Maximus]

The contract you signed with the previous landlord rolls over to the new landlord. What does it say there about repairs?

If I was you, I would talk to the landlord about the repairs you need done and the costs involved and try to come to an agreement. Propose to get whatever fixed and deduct it from the next rent payment.

[Maximus]

Also, if you left a deposit with the old landlord, make sure the new landlord understands that it transfers to them too.

[36510]

The contract you signed with the previous landlord rolls over to the new landlord. What does it say there about repairs?

Wear and tear is the landlord´s responsibility. My question wasn´t about who is responsible though but rather about how to proceed if the landlord is unable/unwilling to fulfill their obligations and you can´t reach an agreement. Could you have it fixed and pay for it from withheld rent and if so what would be the proper procedure to follow? As I said, I don´t have an acute problem yet. I just want to know for potential future issues. Is there some sort of tenant´s association in Cyprus which would offer advice when it comes to problems with your landlord? Is there insurance available for such cases?

[Get Real!]

He asked about repairs. Everything else stemmed from that. The brochure says (2.2) he should refer to his contract regarding repairs.

I said if it is due to normal wear and tear then the landlord should be responsible for that and the brochure agrees with me. However, the brochure also says that the tennant should return the property to the landlord in the same condition as it was given to him. Therefor he is also responsible for that. so the brochure says he should refer to the terms of the rental contract because that is the crucial statute here.

Furthermore, he is talking about withholding rent and threatening to sue. If you read the brochure get real, you would have understood that the landlords only real obligation is to hand over the dwelling to the tennant.

If he doesnt like it that much he can leave and I am being very diplomatic about this.

In which country do you reside?