Lease dictionary
Rent abatement
A temporary reduction or pause in rent, usually because part of the home became unusable.
Rent abatement means you pay less rent - or none - for a period, typically because the unit was partly or fully uninhabitable: a flood, no heat, major construction. The reduction usually mirrors how much of the home you lost the use of.
Some leases spell out when abatement applies; in many states the right also flows from the implied warranty of habitability, even if the lease never mentions it.
Watch out
Don't just stop paying rent on your own - in most states you must follow a specific procedure (written notice, sometimes escrow) or you risk an eviction case.
See it in action
The Maintenance request letter puts this term to work for you.