Need Help ASAP About Eviction/Probelems With Landlord

My boyfriend and I have been renting out apartment now for 16 months; we live in the state of Alaska. Our first winter here we had problems with our door freezing up due to ice. The landlord put weather stripping and gave us a dehumidifier. However, this did not stop the freezing and so it made it very hard for us to get out of our apartment (we would have to chip away at the ice, bang on the door, etc).

Well, this winter, it has been happening again. I came home one night from work when it was minus 20 outside to find out that we could not get the door open. My bf was inside. He couldn't get out and I couldn't get it. He tried everything possible-tried taking off the door nob, called the realitor (it was late, so of course no answer), called the police and called the firestation. Both the police and firestation said that all they could do was break down the door.

So, we continued to bang on the door. Finally, I tried kicking it, and in the process, the door was damaged and needed to be replaced.

Alright, so now we are being charged for the cost of the door and repair (around 450). In our contract it says: Landlord shall make as and when needed, at its own expense, all repairs to rental unit and/or building of which it is part, provided such repairs are not made necessary by the misuse or neglect of Tenant.

So my question is, are we responsible? Yes, we broke the door, but it wasn't intentional. The landlord does have the responsiblity to keep the complex in working condition....and it was not as it is not our fault that the door freezes.

What can we do about this? Anything at all? Help.

You need not pay if he has not kept the conditions such that you have proper use of the residence, including access in and out.

You may sue him in small claims if you have to.