If the landlord accepts partial payment (no matter how small) prior to getting a legal opinion on a nonpayment action, upon getting word of the acceptance of the payment most jurisdictions will dismiss any eviction proceedings premised on nonpayment of rent. The landlord must then initiate the process over, in relation to any additional rents owed.

Typically, even after judgement the renter has a period of time during which the rent arrearage can be paid, so as to avoid eviction.

Please note that you probably do not have the right to unilaterally withhold rent until the landlord repairs a problem with your rental unit. You typically will have to escrow the rent – put it into a special account, perhaps a court account – with special notice to the landlord of the escrow and the defect that justifies the rent escrow.

If you don’t conform to the proper procedures for your jurisdiction, you may be subject to eviction for nonpayment despite your full intent to pay back all the rent you owe. (Also, many tenants who fully intend to pay but who do not use a proper escrow account find that they spend the rent they are withholding, and are evicted when they are unable to pay the back rent after the problem is solved.) Check with a local attorney or renter’s organization before attempting to withhold or escrow rent, so you can make positive that you follow the local law.