Nightmare in Mobile Al.

By matt

My wife and I were told that we had the appartment. 2 days before we were to move in, we were told that the old manager was no longer there and that we would not be getting the appartment.  We argued that we had to be out of our current residence that weekend, so I asked which hotel they would be putting us up in until we found a place.  This got their attention, and they agreed to do a 6 month lease.  I told them in advance that we would be late with the first months rent (we payed a prorata for the 2 weeks left in the month), but that I would gladly pay the late fee.  After the 1st, the manager began to hound us for the rent, so I paid the late fee, $150, and told her that I would pay the rent the following Friday. I would like to know if I have a right to withold the rent due to the following reasons:

The swimming pool is full of algae and fungus

The tennis courts have no nets

The appartment itself is roach infested, and I don’t mean I see a roach every now and then.  We see dozens every time we turn on a light

I have been there for a month and still don’t have a mailbox key so I am unable to receive mail, including my father’s day present from my son in Afghanistan.

And there are many, many safety issues on the grounds which include un-buried electrical wires that I am constantly tripping on when I walk my dog at night.

The manager put a letter on my door stating that if the rent was not paid, that she would be putting a red "for rent" sign on our door and that if we removed it, we would be fined $75.  She has already done this to several people who are late on their rent in an attempt to embarass them into paying.

Someone please tell me what recourse I have, and am I legally right in witholding rent.

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Holy Cow, we couldn't find any other related post. Sorry. :(