Do tenants have rights?

Surely at some point in your life you have rented an apartment. Maybe it was for you or maybe it is for your son who is in college. You may be wondering if tenants have any rights. This is especially true if you or your child has a less than desirable landlord.

The relationship between landlord and tenant should be based on both trust and respect. However, this is usually not the case. What do you do if you have a landlord who refuses to fix things when they break? What do you do if your landlord refuses to return your security deposit when you move out of his apartment?

Here are some things you should know to protect your rights as a tenant:

• Always put your leases in writing. A “verbal” lease can cause misunderstandings between men. Your lease should contain details about how much your rent will be and whether you are responsible for utilities. The lease must also specify when the rent is due. A lease can also specify whether you are allowed to have pets and what types of pets are acceptable. The more specific the lease, the better.
• Owners should expect some wear and tear on the apartment. A renter can be held responsible for damaged items that cannot be considered normal wear and tear. To protect himself, he may want to take a video of your apartment before you move in. Be sure to take pictures of anything that is damaged or in poor condition. For example, holes in walls or broken shutters on windows should be documented. Then do the same when you move.
• Get permission from the landlord if you want to paint or make other improvements to the apartment. When you get permission, make sure it is in writing and specifies the kinds of things that can be done. For example, if the landlord allows you to paint his daughter’s room pink, do so in writing.
• Your landlord may charge you a fee for rent if you are late. This fee must be specified in the lease.
• You are entitled to your security deposit after you move out of your apartment. To ensure your deposit is returned, you must give the landlord 30 days’ notice in writing if you plan to end your lease. You must receive your deposit within 45 business days of leaving the apartment.
• Your landlord must ask your permission to enter your apartment. The only way a landlord can enter your apartment unannounced is if there is an emergency or an item needs to be repaired right away.
• Tenants’ rights vary from state to state and may be affected by other factors.

If you have any questions about your rights as a tenant, you should contact an attorney experienced in this area of ​​law. In addition, you should also consult an attorney before exercising your rights as a tenant. This is important to avoid liability as well as laws.