Bad news first. Well, not bad "news", more like bad situation, but completely resolvable.

My old landlady got my intent to vacate letter. She did not call me when she got it. I decided Sunday night to call her, to just get the unpleasantness out of the way. Frankly, I couldn't stand not knowing her mind.

Remember, the letter discussed my need to assist my family because of my father's declining health. (I sent this type of letter because I knew there would be incredible upheaval if I sent a "did not repair" letter. I may still.)

Her response was that she was not exempt from the law, and that the law was very clear: tenants must give intent to vacate at least 20 days prior to the end of a rental period, that period being any given month, in my case. She believes that "the law is very clear" in its language, and that it is not possible for a landlord and tenant to amend the lease in any way. Of course, it is possible. When I pointed this out, she said again that it was not possible, and that she couldn't "break the law". Well, she is mistaken about the amendability of a lease. Her response to that was to assert that if she were to bend the rules for a tenant, others who found out about it could sue her for doing so.

Sue her? She's worried about people suing her for THAT, when she hasn't insulated the floors in over two years, when she barely maintains the grounds, when there is construction debris against the fence and garbage in the verge behind the garbage cans?

The law also says she has to "[m]aintain the premises to comply with all state and local statutes and codes that affect tenant’s health and safety". In addition, "[t]he landlord must commence repairs as soon as possible after receipt of written notice, but not later than: . . . 10-days in all other cases. If the landlord is unable to comply with these limitations because of circumstances beyond his/her control [i.e.: county permitting, I guess], repairs must be made as soon as possible."

I would argue that three winters without insulation does not constitute "as soon as possible". It also violates the provision for "[m]aintain[ing the] dwelling in a weather tight condition".

I guess I could send this text as a letter to her.

There are details I will not commit to paper, electron or other means. Suffice it to say that I have a solution worked out that feels ethical, fair, and clean.

Stay tuned for the positive developments!