Communicating with your Landlord

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Problems with communicating with your landlord in-person or by text message

If you discuss important issues about your tenancy, it is important to keep records of your conversations. Important issues can include: terminating your tenancy, requests for repairs, or any changes to your rental agreement. Ideally, it is helpful if these records have a verifiable date stamp and a way to prove that they were received by the landlord. It is also helpful to keep a record of any return communications from your landlord. The problem with verbal communication and text messages is that they can be difficult to verify and use as evidence in court.

What can happen if I don’t have records of communications with my landlord?

If you do not keep records of important communications with your landlord, it could hurt your ability to assert your rights as a tenant in a court proceeding. For example, without a written record, a judge may not believe that you told your landlord about needed repairs.

Consider using email to communicate with your landlord

Email is an excellent tool for communicating with your landlord that provides essential verification and records of entire conversations with your landlord. It also can be easily turned into a paper record that may be offered as evidence in court.

Since you may need to use your written messages to the landlord, you should make sure they are direct and courteous.

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This article provides general information about this subject. Laws affecting this subject may have changed since this article was written. For specific legal advice about a problem you are having, get the advice of a lawyer.  Receiving this information does not make you a client of our office.

Last Review Date: June 2023