Sarah leases a residential apartment from Tom. Within weeks, she discovers a severe cockroach and rodent infestation. Sarah promptly notifies Tom in writing and gives him a reasonable opportunity to exterminate the pests, but Tom takes no action. Sarah wishes to remain in possession of the apartment while pressuring Tom to cure the habitability violation. Which of the following remedies is available to Sarah under the implied warranty of habitability doctrine and allows her to stay in the apartment?
Continue paying full rent and simply wait for Tom to act.
File an action to quiet title against Tom.
Treat the lease as terminated and vacate the apartment (constructive eviction).
Withhold further rent (or pay it into escrow) until the infestation is eliminated.
When a landlord's failure to correct a condition that renders residential premises uninhabitable amounts to a breach of the implied warranty of habitability, the tenant has several options. If the tenant wants to remain in possession, she may withhold all or part of the rent (often paying the withheld amount into escrow) until the landlord remedies the defect. This remedy is recognized in most jurisdictions and does not require the tenant to vacate. Constructive eviction (terminating the lease and moving out) requires leaving the premises, repair‑and‑deduct requires the tenant to pay for the work up front, and suing only for quiet title is unrelated to landlord‑tenant habitability issues.
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Real Property
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