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DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW — NOT FINAL

Houle v. Quenneville, 787 A.2d 1258 (2001)

Citation
Houle v. Quenneville, 787 A.2d 1258 (2001)
Parent Document
Houle v. Quenneville, 787 A.2d 1258 (2001)
Jurisdiction
Vermont (state)
Effective Date
2001-11-09

Other Sections in This Document (112)

Full Text

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Tenants took possession of the apartment on or about November 3, 1998. Shortly after taking occupancy, tenants discovered some problems, including an inadequate supply of hot water, a running toilet, leaking shower hose, falling window glazing, and a roll of carpet matting and other debris on the back porch. Tenants notified landlords of the problems. Landlords did not immediately correct the problems, and on March 28, 1999, tenants mailed a letter to landlords detailing the infirmities and informing landlords that tenants would withhold their rent if landlords did not contact tenants within twenty-four hours to make arrangements to resolve the problems. Upon receiving the note, landlords confronted tenants and threatened to bring an action against them for violating the lease by disturbing other tenants. Landlords stated that they would only repair the toilet and asked tenants to voluntarily terminate the lease. Subsequently, landlords served tenants with a notice to vacate the premises by April 30, 1999, asserting tenants had harassed other tenants in violation of the lease. Upon delivering the notice, the sheriff changed the vacate date to May 8, 1999. Tenants then contacted the Building/Electrical Inspector for the City of Barre complaining about the problems with the apartment. After inspecting the premises, the inspector notified landlords that the debris on the porch landing constituted a fire hazard and must be removed.