If there’s someone you don’t want to irritate, it’s your landlord.
Knowing your key rights as a tenant is crucial to making the most of the situation, and LegalShield promises to help. From solving small disagreements to settling large financial disputes, LegalShield is on the tenant’s side. However, like every delicate situation that involves the law, it needs to be re-evaluated.
But first, you’ll need to be acquainted with your tenant rights, so you can, later on, receive assistance from LegalShield for landlords.
A Guide to Tenant Rights
Getting to know your right as a tenant can do wonders for your position. By understanding what you’re capable of, you’ll be prone to development and thus become a better tenant.
You’ll also collect more info on how to resolve situations before they escalate. The following guidelines describe some key steps you need to take to make the best of a bad landlord situation.
What Are the Anti-Discrimination Laws?
People of all color, races, gender, ethnicity, religion, marital status, and disability are protected by the Federal Fair Housing Act from discrimination. This means that any tenant is to be respected and not discriminated against over any rental process.
This right is to be known by many foreign workers in the States because they could be misled from the very start. No one can be denied rental service based on those factors. Understandable reasons like poor credit, low monthly income, or misinformation in credit cards can lead to a landlord refusing to provide rent.
How about Paying Rent?
You and your landlord settle on a specific date on which you should pay your monthly rent. Grace periods on rents cannot be assumed and you usually abide by the specified date in your lease agreement. You and your landlord should also decide on which type of way the payments will proceed.
Landlords have the right to set different dates for your monthly, weekly, or bi-monthly payments. They can also set the date on the exact time of the tenant’s move.
If you don’t pay your rent on time, or at all, your landlord has the right to:
- Find a way to contact you for the rent (call, e-mail, fax)
- Charge you with late fees on top of your rent if you have a provision slacking
- Send you termination notes which, means that you need to pay fast or else you’re evicted (forcibly kicked out)
If you’re short on luck as well as cash and can’t meet ends for your rent this month, you should do the following:
- Be honest. The best way to reason with your landlord is by explaining your issue and providing a solution. Explain how you plan on budgeting in the future and make convincing promises.
- If you’re unable to pay rent this month unexpectedly, then you can show your landlord a plan through which you won’t be late with the rent again.
- Let your landlords know in advance if you’ll be late with the rent. This is to give them as much lead time as possible, so they’ll have enough time to figure out how to cover your expenses.
- If you’re dealing with a corporate landlord, know that they have different rules for late-paying tenants. Corporate landlords are more difficult to negotiate a grace period with.
- Evaluate your state’s individual laws concerning rent. Make sure to learn your rights before it’s eviction time.
Breaking Your Lease
If you’re given an ultimatum because of circumstances you might need to break your lease. Breaking an apartment lease can happen thanks to life circumstances, and it’s best to rethink decisions at this time. Before you decide to break your lease, review your agreement once more and search for a quicker way out.
If you don’t have an opt-out situation you should discuss it with your landlord before you decide to depart. To make things smoother, you can offer to find your landlord a sublet from yourself. If you and your landlord have maintained a good relationship throughout your relationship, they might understand your trouble. If not, it’s suck-up time!
What about My Right to Privacy?
You need to know that your landlord has the right to enter the rental facilities, usually for repairs or check-ups. Remember that they are supposed to give you notice in advance, excluding emergencies. Your landlord has the right to do background checks on any of his tenants. This is to ensure whether there’s a criminal record.
You also have the freedom to cancel your landlord’s arrangement and schedule a date adequate for you both.
Who Cares for Habitability and Repairs?
Tenants need to be guaranteed a safe, livable, and comfy environment to rent. This is included in every lease. Failure to provide heat, hot water, and power on a regular basis represents breaches in livable conditions.
Sometimes, landlords leave it up to tenants to do the repair themselves, and the landlords need to keep things clean, sanitary and free of vermin. It’s also the landlord’s job to ensure whether everything works alright.
Tenant Rights for Disability Accommodation
If you’re a tenant living with disabilities, your landlord is supposed to provide you with the best disability accommodations. If you’re in a wheelchair, your landlord should provide you with grab bars or wheelchair pathways.
What’s the Security Deposit?
Once you decide to live in a rented living space, you’ll most probably be asked to provide a security deposit if things go out of control. This is also a safety deposit for your landlord that he takes for damage you may cause later.
They have no right to charge you extra for whatever reason, and they have to return the deposit. You have the right to protest if your landlord does not pay your deposit back.
When Is It Time for Eviction?
The landlord can evict a tenant for breaching the lease, failing to pay rent on time, or causing damage. The tenant is allowed to claim a notice of eviction, which gives them time to pay the unpaid rent. However, this comes accompanied by fixing your lease.
If you don’t fix it head on, the landlord can take you into court.
What Is Landlord Retaliation?
Your landlord can retaliate in an unlawful manner when they charge you for something regular, like broken water pipes.
Depending on which state you come from, landlord retaliation includes:
- Denying new lease
- Eviction threats
- Raising rent for no reason
- Ignoring issues
If you think you’ve encountered a rough patch with your landlord, it might be best to consult a lawyer. If not, LegalShield deals with tenant-landlord disagreements on a daily basis, and they’ll guarantee the best settlement. Become a member of LegalShield and you can have your legal claim (snap) just like that!
Author
Raymond Hickman is a distinguished lawyer, writer, and legal commentator with extensive experience in various areas of law. He is widely recognized for his exceptional legal knowledge, insightful analysis, and engaging writing style, which have earned him a reputation as a leading voice in the legal profession.With his exceptional legal expertise, insightful analysis, and engaging writing style, Mr. Hickman has earned a reputation as a leading authority in the legal profession. His contributions to the field of law have been recognized by his peers, clients, and the wider legal community, making him a valuable resource for anyone seeking legal advice or insight.