What To Know About Your Tenant Rights
Published by Chris Townsend
If you’re a renter, it’s important to know about your tenant rights. Unfortunately, this is an often overlooked part of renting a place to live since most renters tend to believe that the landlord or owner makes all the rules and that’s that. In reality, this is not the case and there are several laws that you should be aware of that offer you protections against overzealous and unscrupulous landlords. In an ideal world, you’ll never have to exercise these rights, but it’s good information to know in the event that you do need to. While some laws apply broadly on a federal level, many of your tenant rights depend on the state you live in. To find specific information pertaining to your state, this resource from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is a good place to find information.
What To Know About Your Tenant Rights:
The Basics
The basics of any lease agreement apply to both the landlord and the tenant. Both parties have rights and responsibilities they have to abide by, and they are pretty general and not all too surprising. The landlord must provide a safe and habitable living space and is responsible for making any repairs that may prevent such conditions. As a tenant, you are obligated to keep the rental in good condition by proper use of all appliances, disposing of any waste or garbage, and pay rent by the agreed upon date.
Security Deposit
There are specific limits on how much may be charged for a security deposit and they can vary by state. For the most part, they range from one to two months rent and you can find specific information about your state here. The security deposit cannot be higher for one tenant than the others. However, there are certain exceptions, for example, if you have a pet, which often requires an additional deposit and/or monthly rent rate. The is also a timeframe in which the landlord must return your security deposit, which again depends on the state. If you don’t receive your full deposit back, you are entitled to written documentation as to the reasons why.
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Discrimination
The landlord may not discriminate against any current or prospective tenant on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, disability, or any other reason covered under law. If you have a disability, the landlord must make reasonable accommodations for you to live in a rental even if it requires minor renovations, such as installing a wheelchair ramp.
Right to Privacy
As a tenant, you also have a reasonable right to privacy. This means that a landlord may not enter your home without proper notice and the amount of notice they must provide depends on the state laws.
Eviction
If you break the terms of your lease, the landlord does have the right to evict you. To evict someone, the landlord must file a claim that you are entitled to, as well as the right to remedy whatever has been done to breach the contract. A landlord may not evict someone as retaliation for asserting their tenant rights, or simply because they have a personal issue with them. The landlord must provide you notice of an eviction and the timeframe for which you must comply.
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