Can I withhold rent if the landlord won't fix something?

Sometimes. About half of states allow rent withholding into an escrow account after proper written notice. The other half require you to pay and pursue repair-and-deduct or damages separately. We tell you exactly which path applies in your state.

Landlord served eviction after I complained — is that legal?

Retaliatory eviction is illegal in nearly every state when it follows a documented complaint about habitability or other protected activity within a specified window (typically 6 months). We document the timeline and assert it as a defense or affirmative claim.

Landlord/tenant · Habitability · Illegal fees

Landlord violating the lease — or the law? Document, demand, escalate.

Habitability, repair-and-deduct, illegal late fees, retaliatory eviction, illegal entry. Every state has the protections; using them requires the right letter at the right time. We write it, you sign it.

$500 – $10,000+ · Rent reductions, repair costs, statutory damages

FREE

first month

50% OFF

for life

+1 mo

per friend

If any of this is happening to you

We have the playbook for your exact situation.

Habitability issues (heat, plumbing, mold, pests) the landlord won't fix

Hit with late fees that exceed your state's statutory cap

Notice of eviction after you complained about a repair issue

Landlord entering your unit without proper notice

Charged for repairs that are normal wear and tear or pre-existing

The law on your side

State Landlord-Tenant Acts + Implied Warranty of Habitability

Authority

CA Civ §§1941, 1941.1 · NY MDL §§80, 235-b · TX Prop §92.052

Every state has a habitability standard (implied warranty) — landlord must maintain a livable unit. Most states allow repair-and-deduct after proper notice. Retaliation for asserting tenant rights is prohibited and often triggers statutory damages.

The process

Three steps. The agent does the rest.

Send us the bill.

Upload the document — bill, denial letter, deposit itemization, collection notice. We read it, identify which protections in State apply to your specific facts, and tell you what we’d recover. Free triage.

Approve the plan.

We show you the theory of the case — which laws apply, which letters we’d send, what the recovery range looks like. Nothing goes out until you say go.

We do the rest.

Certified mail, deadline tracking, response parsing, escalation when ignored. You only hear from us when there’s a decision to make. Most cases resolve in under 30 days.

Questions, answered

Common questions.

Sometimes. About half of states allow rent withholding into an escrow account after proper written notice. The other half require you to pay and pursue repair-and-deduct or damages separately. We tell you exactly which path applies in your state.

Still wondering? Email hello@dotandcross.io — we read every message.

Closes the day we launch

First month free.
50% off for life.

Two minutes to reserve your spot. Drop your email — we’ll handle the rest when we open.