Under most state laws, landlords are given the responsibility of providing housing that satisfied the set requirements for habitability. Habitability requirements include adequate weatherproofing, structurally safe buildings, available water, heat and electricity and clean and sanitary premises. Other than the state laws, local building codes will also set the standards for the minimum requirements for […]

Although landlords have the right to increase the lease, they should only do so within the rent guideline. The rent guideline would discuss the reasons for a possible rent increase but it will not include a cap in the interest rate. If the landlord wants to increase the rent but beyond the rent guideline, then […]

When living in an apartment complex, you’d have to live with noise. Always bear in mind that there are other families living in the same building so noise in inevitable. You cannot file a complaint for every creak and talk to you hear through your apartment walls. With that said, you cannot be too sensitive […]

Black mold is quickly becoming a legal nuisance because of the way it spreads and the health hazards that it creates. The good thing about it is that its life cycle is pretty much known to everyone so it’s easy to spot them. Mold, of any kind, thrives in moist places – fiber, ceiling, wall […]

I live in California and I know that my landlord can enter my apartment without permission but only if it’s an emergency. And by emergency, that means in the event of fire, and leaks and so on. But I have a very nosy landlord who asks who my visitors are, checks my mail and I […]

For renters living in their apartments and paying rent diligently, it may come as a big surprise to wake up one morning and receive a 30-day notice posted on your door. When it happened to me, I was very confused. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t even know what I did to deserve […]

I live in an legal apartment.  I have an oral lease agreement with the owner but recently, I have not been very diligent in my payments.  I am a single mother with two children.  I lost one of my jobs recently so I’m only getting enough for our daily expenses and nothing left for the […]

During an eviction, the court will interfere in a tenant – landlord dispute.  Usually, a landlord will only file for an eviction if the tenant has already been served the 3 – day notice and has not made a payment still.  However, as the court proceedings continue the tenant will stay in the apartment and […]

I’m stuck with a friend who is living with me but did not sign the lease.  What happened was I was supposed to be living on my own but then a few months from the date that I moved in I realized that I couldn’t continue paying the rent.  So since I’m still locked into […]

The security deposit is usually equivalent to a month’s worth of rent.  In some cases, it could be higher.  The tenant laws are available to make sure that we could get our security deposit back once we decide to move out.  But the use of the security deposit depends on each state.  For instance, in […]