Why has she continued to pay? This is very confusing. That money would have been better spent on a team of inspectors, photographs, and legal fees.
Probably because if you don’t pay rent you can end up evicted and then functionally barred from living anywhere.
Thats when you start putting your rent into escrow and tell the landlord he can have it when the place is fixed. The courts will probably support you in this as long as you’re actually paying to an escrow account.
Or you dont be your own lawyer and follow legal advice, which is probably to fulfill the contract you signed when you rented the place and sue for what you are due after the fact.
… You think a single mom, with a family of 3, all of which have been seriously negatively affected health wise by the mould, who is paying probably paying two different rents simultaneously, has the time and money to afford a lawyer and accountant?
Even if its settled in small claims court without lawyers, bare minimum you’re probably going to want to consult with one.
The Landlord Tenant Board will look into her case but that won’t happen, she said, until October.
This appears to be the real problem. Can’t really stop paying until there’s some sort of ruling.