Lease dictionary
Rent escrow
Paying rent to a court or neutral account - instead of the landlord - until repairs get made.
Rent escrow lets you keep paying rent, but into a court-held account, when a landlord ignores serious repair problems. The money piles up out of the landlord's reach until the home is fixed - strong leverage without the risk of simply withholding.
It's a formal process: typically you need written notice to the landlord, a waiting period, and a filing at your local court. Not every state offers it.
Watch out
Never just stop paying rent. Escrow (where available) gives you the same leverage while protecting you from an unpaid-rent eviction.
See it in action
The Maintenance request letter puts this term to work for you.