Whose responsibility?

[LSchmid]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? WI

My sister rented a house beginning 8/1/09 - she only saw it once prior to renting. There wasn't any application to complete as the owners stated they go by their "feelings" regarding to whom they rent. When she viewed it the current tenants were living there.

Well Saturday she went to pick up the keys and the tenants have left and she had found NUMEROUS issues with the house - the house has not been painted in a very long time - the walls are really dirty/discolored, the carpets hadn't been cleaned (lots of stains, etc.) the house hadn't been cleaned (the inside of the cabinets, drawers still had old food, etc. in them), there is a hole in the flooring of the kitchen that she did not see when she went to view the house as the current tenant had a rug over it - and this is just to name a few things.

She subsequently had to go out and buy new flooring for the kitchen (the landlord is not interested in paying to replace it), she spent 8 hours in there yesterday painting and cleaning all the rooms and there is still more to be done.

What can she do? Aren't the landlords responsible for making sure the house is in the proper shape to be inhabited? What about painting - what are the requirements? She is spending HOURS getting this house ready for her and her two kids to move into and in her current place of residence, she is reponsible for having it cleaned, etc. as well.

Please advise.

 

[applecruncher]

This makes no sense at all.

Yes, the landlord is responsible to get the place in shape. Maybe their “feelings” were just to do nothing and let the tenant take care of it.

Your sister should have returned the keys to the LL and demanded her money back – she should never have moved in. The fact that there was no application should have given her a clue. Is there even a lease? Did your sister get a receipt for any money paid? She chose to spend money and effort getting the place in shape herself. If that’s what she wants to do, fine, but then she shouldn’t be complaining about it and playing the victim.

 

[LSchmid]

She doesn't have much of a choice but to take the place. After seeing it ONCE back in early June, she was not permitted access to it until this past Saturday, leaving her less than one week to move. Unfortunately she already gave notice at her old place and that place has been rented beginning 8/1 and she has to be out of there by 7/3. She lives in an area that does NOT have alot of places to rent that are of good quality. Had she been able to see it prior to this, she could have made some different decisions but now is backed against some pretty tough deadlines, plus has two kids.

As for the lease, apparently there is one.

My original question stands, can/should she approach the landlord about the shape of the place and what she is spending to get it "liveable"?

 

[Baranov]

She viewed the apartment and obviously liked what she saw. Her LL is under no obligation to compensate her in any way. She should take before and after pictures and use them at the end of her lease to refute any charges if any.

 

[applecruncher]

She doesn't have much of a choice but to take the place. After seeing it ONCE back in early June, she was not permitted access to it until this past Saturday, leaving her less than one week to move. Unfortunately she already gave notice at her old place and that place has been rented beginning 8/1 and she has to be out of there by 7/3. She lives in an area that does NOT have alot of places to rent that are of good quality. Had she been able to see it prior to this, she could have made some different decisions but now is backed against some pretty tough deadlines, plus has two kids.

As for the lease, apparently there is one.

My original question stands, can/should she approach the landlord about the shape of the place and what she is spending to get it "liveable"?

Yes, she can and yes she should "approach" the landlord.
Good luck with THAT

 

[Searchertwin]

She doesn't have much of a choice but to take the place. After seeing it ONCE back in early June, she was not permitted access to it until this past Saturday, leaving her less than one week to move. Unfortunately she already gave notice at her old place and that place has been rented beginning 8/1 and she has to be out of there by 7/3. She lives in an area that does NOT have alot of places to rent that are of good quality. Had she been able to see it prior to this, she could have made some different decisions but now is backed against some pretty tough deadlines, plus has two kids.

As for the lease, apparently there is one.

My original question stands, can/should she approach the landlord about the shape of the place and what she is spending to get it "liveable"?

On what basis? She saw the place, accepted, and moved in..the LL did not pressure her to move in...
She should have spoken up about things BEFORE she handed them the rent and deposit..her fault...not the LL
And adding the "two kids" won't change the facts...