Jackson Leasing Co. acquired an apartment complex having some problems. The tenants complained of wall cracks, peeling paint, water leaks, heating and electrical fixture problems, broken or inoperable windows, rodents and cockroaches, and the lack of sufficient heat in the apartments. All of these conditions existed before Jackson acquired ownership. Jackson refused the fix any of the problems, and the tenants withheld rent to fix some of the problems. Jackson then tried to evict the tenants for nonpayment of rent. Was Jackson responsible for correcting the problems even though they existed before they purchased the property? Were the tenants justified in withholding rent?

See Knight v. Hallsthammar, 29 Cal. 3d 46, 50 (1981).