We live Section 8 however we are told we are under california tax credit iwe pay for repairs ?

It is unusual to have a tenant be responsible for repairs. If the complex is in "bad shape" you can file a complaint with the HUD or the Department that is responsible for administering Section 8 in your area - they can conduct an inspection and cause some citation to be issued to your landlord by the City Office for violation of Health and Safety Codes or other Maintenance violations. A landlord's breach of warranty of habitability is always a viable defense for residential tenants in non-payment of rent case, so if you want to force your landlord's hand in making these repairs, you could withhold rent, which will force your landlord to give you Notice to Quit and eventually file an action for Unlawful Detainer - at that trial you can show all the things that make you say the "complex is in bad shape" and if the court finds that these habitability issues exist, the court will render a "conditional judgment", possibly assigning a percentage reduction of rent to you for the months at issue up to the current period, and would order the landlord to make the specified repairs with an order to appear before the court at a set date to show proof that the repairs have been made. It is important for you to note that you are only withholding rent, you will still have to pay the rent owed, or whatever reduced rent the court ordered you to pay - usually the court will order the rent to be paid within five (5) days of your receipt of the court's judgement, and if you do not make the payment on time the landlord will have judgment and may actually evict you. So be sure not to squander any rent withheld, put it in a separate account, if possible, and have it handy to pay when ordered to do so. Your local Office that administer Section 8 should be able to confirm if all the other claims as to periods for repainting and re-carpeting are applicable. Good luck, you may need to consult a lawyer also to seek more succinct advise and alternative causes of action. Sincerely, Chief Nnamdi A. Ekenna.