INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You cannot be forced to stay in a housing situation that is dangerous or significantly different from what you were guaranteed in your lease. In the United States, each state has laws that outline an implied warranty of habitability. This is implied in any residential lease (not applicable for commercial leases) and requires landlords to provide a minimum standard of safe, sanitary, and livable condition. The basic conditions required by law are generally similar. Usually, the residence must have a safe electrical system, drinkable water, locks, operational sewer system, a system to deal with removal of trash, and a smoke detector. The residence should not have an infestation of pests such as bugs or rodents. Specific regulations may vary by state. Check out Nolo's database of state landlord-tenant laws for information in your state. A brief version of state habitability statutes is available via Landlord.com. To determine whether your landlord is violating the warranty of habitability, inspect your residence and the surrounding area. In an apartment building, the landlord is responsible for shared public areas as well as individual residences. Look for conditions that are dangerous to life, health, or safety such as broken stairs or railings, poor lighting, or evidence of criminal activity. These may breach the warranty of habitability. You cannot have been responsible for causing these issues. For example, if your window is broken because you threw a baseball through it and you haven't paid to have it fixed, that situation does not violate the warranty of habitability. Are there broken windows or doors? Are there exposed, sharp edges on woodwork or glass? Does it contain an unabated lead hazard or other toxic materials? Are vital facilities -- e.g., toilets, heat, electricity, water, refrigerator -- operational? Do pests keep returning, no matter how clean you keep your residence? Are there noxious odors in the air from sewage leaks? You can also look for issues outside of your residence. Is the parking lot/area being neglected? If there are gates, are they maintained? Is the building substantially different from what you were shown before you signed a lease? You must give your landlord a fair chance to remedy the problems. You cannot simply abandon your residence and cite these issues later. If your landlord does not fix the issues within a reasonable time, you have just cause to terminate your lease. To prove that your landlord did not respond to the habitability issues in a reasonable time, you must be prepared to show that the landlord had knowledge of the defect or necessary repairs and failed to act. Send a copy by certified mail and request a return receipt so that you can prove your landlord received your complaint. Keep a copy of all communication for your records. Take photographs of the defects when possible. These records may help you prove landlord neglect later. Landlords may also be subject to "constructive notice" of the need for repair. This means that the landlord should or could have known about an obvious problem through regular maintenance or visits to the property. What constitutes a "reasonable time" varies by situation and by state. For example, if you notify a landlord in the summer that the furnace does not work, it is not reasonable to give him or her 24 hours to comply because not having the furnace does not present a serious threat to habitability at that point. However, if you make the same complaint in the middle of winter, you would be justified in expecting an immediate repair. State a specific deadline in your notice, and make it clear that if the landlord does not complete the repairs to your satisfaction by the date given, you will abandon your lease. Make sure that the date you give your landlord gives him or her enough time to actually fix the condition. For example, you should not send your letter on a Monday stating that all repairs must be made by Tuesday. Many states require you to allow at least 1-2 weeks for repairs to be made. Understand that if you abandon your lease too quickly you can be taken to court. Do not abandon your lease until you have given your landlord the chance to fix issues. If your landlord refuses or delays making necessary repairs, consider having your city's housing inspector inspect your residence. The inspector can give an objective account of issues with the property and may be more effective at convincing your landlord to act. A serious problem is one that creates severe discomfort or danger to the resident. For example, not having heat in the winter or running water are examples of serious problems. A paint color you're not happy with is not a serious problem. If your residence is significantly different than what you were promised when you signed your lease, you may be able to claim a violation of the habitability warrant. For example, if you were shown an apartment with a working stove and refrigerator and your apartment had neither when you moved in, that is a significant breach that impacts your ability to live in the residence. Slight variations do not qualify for this warranty. For example, if you were shown a unit with beige walls and were rented a unit with brown walls, this is a nuisance, but not a dangerous condition.

SUMMARY: Research your local landlord-tenant laws. Inspect your residence and its surroundings. Give your landlord opportunities to fix these issues. Give written notice of the defects to your landlord when you discover them. Set a reasonable deadline to fix the issues. Have your home inspected. Remember that the warranty of habitability applies to serious problems only.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If your symptoms don't improve from steps at home or if the leakage begins interfering with your activities of daily life, then make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will have a variety of steps available based on the severity and other specifics of your case, including both medications and surgical intervention in severe instances. Give your doctor a complete picture of your medical history and tell him what steps you've already tried. Your doctor will perform a physical examination of your abdomen and genitals, likely asking you to clench several muscles in the process. She may also want to run other diagnostic tests, which may include: Urine sample testing for infection, the presence of blood, or abnormalities that would increase the sensitivity or irritability of your bladder A neurological examination to identify any nerve damage in the pelvis A urinary stress test, during which the doctor will observe for urine loss while you cough or bear down Bladder function testing, which will measure the amount of urine left in the bladder after urination and pressure inside the bladder Your doctor will likely encourage you to continue with home treatment steps (possibly even augmenting your routine). He may also recommend a medication to help reduce your stress incontinence. Medications that can help with mild to moderate cases include: Anticholinergic medicinesoxybutynin (Oxytrol, Ditropan), tolterodine (Detrol), and trospium (Sanctura)to help relax the bladder muscles and reduce contractions and leakage Antimuscarinic drugsatropine, solifenacinto stop bladder contractions (may increase the amount of urine left in the bladder after emptying) Imipraminea tricyclic antidepressantthat relaxes the bladder muscles to help with full evacuation Estrogen creams and vaginal tablets or rings that can help women who have gone through menopause to increase the strength of the pelvic floor muscles When all other options have failed to relieve your stress incontinence symptoms, your doctor may suggest surgical options as a last resort. Your doctor will base the recommendation of a specific procedure on your sex and other criteria. Options include: Anterior vaginal repair, which restores vaginal walls strength when bladder prolapse is involved (the bladder bulging into the vagina). Artificial urinary sphincter, which is a device used mainly in men to stop urine leakage. Collagen injections, which thicken the area around the urethra to reduce leakage. This option can require multiple procedures. Retropubic suspension, which is a procedure that lifts the bladder and urethra to reduce strain and pressure. Vaginal sling procedures, which support the urethra with the use of a sling to reduce strain and pressure.

SUMMARY:
Recognize when to see your doctor. Submit to any diagnostic testing. Ask about medication options. Consult your physician about surgical options.