Constitutional Right to Opinion

Renters are protected by the first amendment of the constitution of the United States of America.  The RPA respects your right to rate your landlord based upon your opinions and renting experiences.  As a US citizen you are granted this right to freedom of speech.  You are entitled to the option to state your opinions about your landlord or apartment.  The constitution declares that "congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech."

What can I say about my Landlord or Apartment Complex?
Generally you are able to say anything that you feel may be important to future tenants, things that may help them understand what to expect.  Although it may seem like common sense, renters cannot make up landlord ratings that are false or un-merited.  Renters don't have the right to make false allegations as a means to harm your landlord's reputation.  You can share your experiences dealing with management, repair issues, safety concerns, noise, parking, cleanliness, problems, etc. 

 

By rating your landlord and giving your true opinions through the Rental Protection Agency, your landlord will not have the right to sue for slander.  Landlord slander would only apply to individuals that falsely accuse their landlord of things that are un-true.  The RPA provides landlords with an option to dispute any comment left by previous tenants.  In the event of a dispute our agency will determine whether the comment should be removed from the landlord's record at our discretion.  Normally, the RPA will require the landlord to submit proof of false allegations.  Renter's comments are rarely removed unless they violate posting guidelines such as profanity, racism, and accusations.  As long as you remember to be honest with your opinions, your comment should remain on your landlord's record.