Tenant facing issues with landlord agent (GA, USA)

Question

We recently signed a 1 year lease for a house. A realtor was representing the landlord. We moved in about 2 months ago.

At the time of move-in, the realtor gave a walk-through of the house and filled a form documenting all damages. We asked a copy of the filled form, but he said we can take another 1 week to find other problems and he would add that to the form and send us the final one. It has been 2 months and he still has not returned us the form. We have requested him multiple times via email, text and phone call.

Also, the rent includes a pass to the condominium amenities which he has not given us yet despite several attempts to request one. Finally, there is a bathroom with a broken toilet bowl which we found out in the first couple weeks (since this house has multiple bathrooms we did not use this for a while). Again, he has not fixed it despite several requests.

What are my options now? Is there a way I can make a new move-in inspection sheet with all the damages documented and attested by lawyer or something. There is already some tension in the relationship, and I ma not sure if I want to write him a strongly-worded email to push him a little bit. I am worried that he has my 1-month deposit and he is going to make sure I lose all of it.

Answer 1

What are my options now? Is there a way I can make a new move-in inspection sheet with all the damages documented and attested by lawyer or something

Involving a lawyer for witnessing an inspection seems expensive and unreliable.

Instead, you could make your own list of damages, sign it before a notary (ensuring that, in addition to the seal, the notary stamps some visible sign on the letter), and send the realtor a copy of that notarized letter. You will keep the original in case the matter ends up in court. Unless the realtor gets up to speed with his promise for an inspection, your notarized letter insofar as evidence is much likelier to outweigh the realtor's after-the-fact, bare allegations.

You mention that there is already some tension in your relationship with the realtor. Henceforth, your communications with him should be in writing --preferably email-- so that you have records of your interactions, lest he falsely accuse you of making threats. Indeed, some immoral people resort to that type of calumnies when they realize that their position is meritless (defamation is precisely why I sued my former employer, a matter which I have needed to bring before the SCOTUS).

Your post reflects that not using one of the bathrooms is the only harm or loss you have experienced so far. Thus, you could only pursue in court declaratory and injunctive relief through claims of negligence and breach of contract. However, under these circumstances, judicial proceedings might be extreme and not worth, considering that litigation is neither easy nor a quick matter.