Legal Issues

Finding an apartment with paid utilities is a convenient option for many tenants. You may have poor credit that results in companies charging you large deposits prior to connecting utilities. If your landlord will pay for them as part of your rent payment, then you don’t have to worry about that. You also don’t have […]

Stolen mail is an illegal offense that does more than just irritate you. You could be losing purchases, cash, gift cards and sensitive financial information that makes it possible for a thief to assume your identity and/or charge purchases to you. If you suspect that your mail is being stolen, take the following precautions: Make […]

A pay or quit notice is sent to a tenant who has failed to pay rent as required by the leasing contract. Most times, this type of notice is sent prior to the landlord beginning eviction proceedings against the tenant. This letter provides a tenant with a certain amount of time, typically 10 days, to […]

If you have paid utilities that were technically and legally the responsibility of your landlord, you may be entitled to receive compensation or credit for that expenditure on your monthly rent. To obtain such compensation, however, you must prove to your landlord that you made the payments because of his failure. Obtaining Rent Credit: Who […]

While a rental lease binds you to a property for a period of time, it is not unbreakable. One situation in which you might be able to break your lease is when the landlord makes changes to the property that alters your ability to live in the space. What Constitutes a Substantial Change? A tenant […]

Mold laws are designed to protect tenants from living in infected homes and becoming seriously sick. Unfortunately, not all landlords adhere to these laws and continue to rent apartments despite the presence of toxic mold. Identifying toxic mold is not easy as there are many types of mold and not all are toxic. Below are […]

The tenant screening process is designed to protect landlords against careless or fraudulent tenants. Unfortunately, the screenings sometimes report misleading information about a tenant, particularly if the tenant’s previous situation contained a tumultuous landlord-tenant relationship. Sometimes, a tenant may have to dispute the findings of a tenant screening when they do not properly reflect the […]

When facing an eviction, you will have the decision of how to behave in the situation. Certain behaviors or actions will only make the eviction worse and, possibly, impact your life long-term. Below are four common mistakes individuals make when facing eviction. 1. Not Following the Rules Your landlord cannot simply evict you overnight. Instead, […]

Renting laws, both state and federal, can benefit you as a tenant. Some laws protect you against being thrown out on the streets with no warning or for no good reason. Other laws make it financially possible for you to move into an apartment in first place. It’s important to know basic tenant rights before […]