I want to break my lease after 1 month due to several problems that were not disclosed to me before I signed the papers and paid the deposit, ie: the intercom system was not working, so any person could access the building off the street, the heating unit makes a loud noise, making it impossible to sleep at night, etc. Do these things make the lease null and void? Please help. Thank you. I live in Los Angeles, CA.

No, the problems mentioned do not make the lease null and void.

The problems mentioned can be fixed and your first step should be to bring them to the attention of the owner, landlord or property manager - in writing. Simply, notify then of the problems and request that they be fixed - send it Certified Return Receipt Requested.

Sending a written a notice is all good and fine, but the fact is, I never would have entered into the contract had they disclosed the lack of security in the building, which they are legally obligated to do. How does this not make the lease null and void?

Where does it state that they are legally obligated to inform you of security?

**A: are you saying that the front entry door is unlocked and open to the public?

Yes, the door was taped open to let anyone in, while the motherboard for the intercom system was sent away to be fixed, which took at least 2 weeks. All of this without my knowledge, since I was shown the apartment at night, when then tape was taken off the door.

So take the tape off the door during the day...

So take the tape off during the day? Are you a slumlord too? For $1350 a month, I don't expect this nonsense--guess it doesn't bother you. Besides, when the tape was taken off, no mail got delivered.

no, it doesn't bother me... for $1300 a month I would make sure to see the place during the day and make sure that it was to my liking and I felt safe there BEFORE I signed a lease...
Tell me, what steps have you taken to fix these problems?

Wouldn't be on this website if I did what you suggest, but then again, I didn't expect to be deceived either. Aside from your lecture, any help for my original question would be appreciated.

sorry.. all out of common sense today... that's a hot item and I can't seem to keep it on the shelf...
What you can do though is start a paper trail... Send a CRRR letter stating the problem, how is affects you and you expect an answer from them... Check your states LL/T laws as most have a statute regarding fixing housing problems... This probably won't do you any good right now, but somewhere down the line it will...

No**************..

Johnnyp you can't just leave but you CAN force LL to fix it, but it will take a month or so so go ahead and get started with the letter like treese and whosliable said. Look it up in your state's landlord tenant law, it's called "repair and deduct." You are notifying the landlord of the problems, giving him a little time, and if he still does nothing you can do it yourself and take it out of the rent, but you have to do it exactly right so look it up and you probably won't even need a lawyer if you are careful about it. Besides, rather than just leaving, wouldn't you rather force the landlord to fix things, for your sake and the sake of the next poor fool that doesn't know his rights?

I appreciate everyone's feedback, and don't want to sound ungrateful, but all the responses address "after the fact" solutions. The bottom line is, I shouldn't have to confront the landlord to make repairs that existed before I even moved in and was not made aware of--this is fraud, for lack a better word, and common sense dictates that the lease(a contract I would not have signed in the first place) should be void. Can anyone address this issue? Thank you.

How many replies do you need? The answer is NO! The lease is NOT VOID! BUT you CAN force the landlord to fix it. THE END.