Tenant’s Rights

Understanding Tenant’s Rights Ideally, landlords and tenants should work to create a proper and mutually useful relationship. While many tenant-landlord relationships do have this description, there are always exceptions. Laws have been created on a state level to protect both the tenant’s rights and the tenant’s rights. Many tenant’s rights vary by state, so it is important to see which are applicable before singing a rental agreement. Here are some common tenant’s rights that many states have. • The Fair Housing Act says it is illegal to deny a tenant housing because of sex, race, color, religion, family status, disability, or national origin. • Residential rental units must be livable and in agreement with health and housing codes. The homes should be sanitary, structurally safe, weatherproofed, and have adequate water, heat, and electricity. • Some states limit the amount that can be charged for security deposits. • A landlord should make any needed repairs and do maintenance tasks in a timely fashion, or at least include a provision in the lease that states that a tenant can order certain and deduct the cost of any necessary repairs from the rent. • According to tenant’s rights, a landlord must give early notice, usually 24 hours before entering the property and can typically only do for repairs or during an emergency. • Any Illegal provisions opposing state law found in a rental agreement are normally not enforceable in court. • If a landlord has violated any health, safety, or necessary repair terms, a tenant may be able to break the lease. • If a long-term lease has to be broken, the tenant’s rights of most states say the landlord must search for a replacement tenant as soon as possible instead of charging the tenant for the full duration of the lease. • Security or deposits are not deductible for normal wear. Certain states have tenant’s rights that require a landlord to give an itemized report of deductions. • Majority of states require landlords to give the refundable portions of a security deposit back within 14 to 30 days after the tenant leaves premises, even during evictions. • Landlords normally cannot legally seize a tenant's property due to rent nonpayment or other reasons, except during abandonment as defined by law. • Landlords are prohibited by law from evicting tenants as a form of retaliation for any action a tenant takes regarding a perceived violation by the landlord. • According to tenant’s rights, the landlord cannot shut off utilities, change the locks, or evict a tenant without notice without a court order. • If a landlord makes life unbearable for a tenant, forcing him or her to move out, it can be thought of as constructive eviction, which according to tenant’s rights is often grounds for legal action. • Many state laws say it is illegal for a lease to instruct the tenant to be responsible for the attorney fees of a landlord in a court dispute.