Legal Issues

The repercussions of breaking your lease can haunt you for years after. It will impact your ability to rent future apartments, or cost you money that can lead to financial hardship. Breaking your lease should be the last resort, and in most cases, it should not even be an option. Here are 3 common repercussions […]

The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, or URLTA, is a resource for landlords and tenants alike that helps clarify issues related to sometimes complicated rental agreements. The legislation, which was written in the 1970s, still provides a lot of the basis for rental law in many U.S. states. Skilled legal professionals who are helping […]

Rental laws often site that an apartment should be “habitable and in reasonable repair.” Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law defines habitable as: suitable and fit for a person to live in: free of defects that endanger the health and safety of occupants. There are obvious signs to look for but what about the subtle signs that […]

Declaring bankruptcy can be a nightmare for tenants. Add to that the prospect of getting evicted because of it, and life can get stressful very quickly. Can you get evicted for declaring bankruptcy? Here’s what you need to know: Automatic Stay If declaring bankruptcy is on the table, chances are you might be behind in […]

Getting your full security deposit back at the end of your lease term is very possible as long as you’re responsible with the property. Landlords ask for a security deposit, usually equal to one month’s rent, as collateral against any major damage that may occur during your stay in the apartment. Security deposits also help […]

Rental laws hold landlords responsible for crime and injury to tenants they could have prevented. If a landlord is negligent in their responsibilities, he can be held liable for any injuries suffered by his tenants. The tenant must prove, among many things, that it was the landlord’s negligence that caused the injury and that there […]

The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is a piece of legislation passed in the 1970s that provides a general consensus on how to handle rental situations from a legal perspective. The URLTA, which has been fully or partially adopted in over a dozen U.S. states, is a kind of “template” for how state governments […]

There are a number of laws you should know about when it comes to renting in Los Angeles. As a tenant, you have many rights afforded to you by law, and they appear to be heavily in your favor. However, your landlord also has rights, and knowing as much as you can on the following […]

When reading a tenant agreement, it’s important to focus on the major issues first. The amount of your rent payment is more important than what state has jurisdiction over the lease should a dispute arise. Here are some lease clauses to read and understand when you get your tenant agreement: Rent and Security Deposit The […]