Tenants win repairs and rent reductions

NEWARK, N.J. — Tenants of a 60-unit building will receive $240,000 in rent credits, and the landlord will make repairs under court supervision, after a winter of failing heat and recurring leaks.

Residents said the heat cut out for days at a time and water came through ceilings in several apartments.

The tenants were seeking livable homes, a return of rent paid for apartments that were not habitable, and a firm repair schedule.

Marvessa Law gathered tenant logs, city inspection reports and dated photos, and asked the court to supervise repairs.

The landlord agreed to $240,000 in rent credits and a court-supervised repair schedule.

The credits are applied to future rent rather than paid in cash.

Written repair requests and dated photos are often the core evidence in habitability disputes, tenant lawyers say.