Sandy Hutchens believes in fairness and in any manner of dispute resolution that does not have to go to court. That is why it is important to have agencies with enough clout to resolve disputes. This is most easily achieved, according to Sandy Hutchens, when the landlord has something to gain or lose from dealing with your complaint.
Landlord complaints are documented public record on a Landlord history report. Based on how your landlord reacts to the landlord complaint, it may have an impact on their personal reputation, and could prevent other tenants from renting from this landlord. Therefore the vast majority of landlords are highly motivated to act by resolving the landlord complaint with alacrity and evenhandedness. Landlord complaints are logged permanently and will have a big impact on their risk score which is determined through this process. Complaints quickly resolved actually have positive effects on the landlord's risk score whereas unsettled cases will likely stop your landlord from legal approval.
Landlords, property managers et al of large or small size rental properties have been found in violation of rent laws. Certain property managers may neglect rent laws because they do not deem them as significant, or just because they are ignorant of them. Landlords in violation of rent laws are allowed to fix the situation before it has to go to the appropriate authorities. Landlords that are found quilty may be have fines imposed on them and face banishment from the RPA. In certain egregious cases the RPA may involve local authorities without allowing the landlord to repair the problem.
In your municipality you will discover a local housing authority. Understand that local housing authorities are not set up to handle landlord vs. tenant disputes. Although the moniker is strange, housing authorities are really government welfare programs and therefore of no help to you with a landlord complaint. Your local housing authority provides families in need with financial support and do not help with landlord complaints.