Repairs & living conditions
Can I withhold rent until my landlord makes repairs?
Only in states with a formal process, and only by following it exactly - written notice, waiting periods, sometimes paying into escrow. Just not paying is the fastest way to hand a landlord an eviction case.
Some states allow rent withholding or repair-and-deduct for serious habitability failures, but each has strict prerequisites. Skip a step and the withholding becomes simple non-payment - and non-payment evictions move fast.
The safer sequence almost everywhere: written repair demand → code-enforcement complaint → escrow or repair-and-deduct where authorized → tenant-rights organization before you withhold a dollar.
Do something about it
The Maintenance request letter turns this answer into action.
General educational information, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and city and change over time - for a specific situation, contact a local tenant-rights organization.