Just signed FL lease - now place is falling apart

[Fortune500]

I just signed a lease for a condo in FL and moved in. The place seemed really nice and I'm paying top dollar. As soon as I moved in I noticed things -

• I have no hot water
• The ice maker does not work on the fridge
• It is all but impossible to lock the back door with the key from the outside - the force required is going to end up braking off the key
• The air ducts in one of the bedrooms are open, yet no heat or air comes through?
• I am finding mold all over the place
• The alarm system goes off sporadically for no reason

The property manager has sent someone out three times to look at the hot water issue and every time I'm told it is fixed, I come home to find I still don't have hot water...

I signed this lease less than a week ago. Is there anyway I can get out of the lease. This place is not in the condition that it was presented. Again, I am paying a very large amount for this condo and would have better expectations if I was living in a dump. I have had to shower at work as I can't even take a hot shower at home.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

The following may be helpful to you in terms of your options:

http://www.coj.net/Departments/Envi...r+Affairs/Floridas+landlord+tenant+rights.htm

Be aware that while a landlord must provide an unit that meets codes/standards for issues such as heat, plumbing, electricity, etc. issues such as an ice maker that doesn't work and an alarm system that goes off would be considered minor repairs and not justification for withholding rent or attempting to break a lease.

I'd focus on the hot water and heat issue. I'd certainly skip the mold argument as most mold is simply mildew, easily removed with a combination of bleach and water. The mold argument as a health issue and justification for breaking a lease by tenants has, frankly, lost much of it's impact as it's been beaten to death as an excuse to leave.

Gail