Surely at some point in your life you have rented an apartment. Maybe it was for you or maybe it’s 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 have a less than desirable landlord.
The landlord-tenant relationship 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 he moves out of his apartment?
Here are some things to 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 may 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 in the apartment. A renter may 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 moving out. Be sure to take pictures of anything that is damaged or in disrepair. For example, holes in the walls or broken blinds on the windows must 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 types of things that can be done. For example, if your landlord allows you to paint his daughter’s room pink, do so in writing.
- Your landlord may charge you a rent fee if you are late with your payment. This fee must be specified in the lease.
- You are entitled to your security deposit after you move out of your apartment. To make sure you get your deposit back, you must give your landlord 30 days’ written notice 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 without notice is if there is an emergency or an item needs to be fixed 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 who is 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 the laws.