Legal Issues

Life happens and there are a number of factors out there that could require you to opt for subletting your apartment. Few life transitions or changes line up neatly with apartment lease terms. You could get a job in a new city or hit financial circumstances that make your current apartment unaffordable, leaving you unable […]

Tenant privacy rights are the rights which exist between a landlord and a renter. While a renter does not maintain ownership of the apartment, the landlord does but is restricted to respecting the privacy and living quarters of the renter. Tenant privacy rights were developed to protect a renter’s privacy without unwarranted intrusion by their […]

When a landlord begins raising rent, it can often put the renter in a bit of a financial crush and cause them to wonder what to do. While there are laws that maintain when and how a landlord can raise rent, the bottom line is that a landlord can raise the rent on a renter. […]

If you are planning on renting in Seattle it is important you be aware of the local landlord tenant laws because you never know when you might need them. 1. Landlords Must Have Just Cause to Terminate Month-to-Month Renters This law is crucial to know if you are a month-to-month tenant. In many states, as […]

You’re all moved out of your old apartment and are settling into your new place. Suddenly, you get a phone call from your old landlord, informing you that he found damage to the apartment that you never reported. It may even be enough damage that he is asking for money beyond your security deposit to […]

When it comes to an apartment security deposit, reasonable deposit amounts depend on a few factors. Ultimately, it is determined by the state and how effectively they regulate the security deposit maximum. The Purpose of a Security Deposit Before you ask the question of whether or not you are paying too much for an apartment […]

When you sign an agreement to lease an apartment, you are entering into a legally binding contract with your landlord. Like all contracts, the terms you agree on are negotiable. Understanding your rights and the negotiating process will help you to sign a lease with more favorable terms. Is Everything Negotiable? In some contracts, all […]

No two lease agreements are exactly alike. Each tenant has a unique situation which requires a negotiation of the terms or the addition of more terms. Knowing the different terms of a typical agreement will help you negotiate the best agreement possible. Lease Term This clause in your lease agreement is straightforward. It lists how […]

Before you sign your lease, it’s good to review the key terms found in a sample lease agreement.  A lease is a mutual agreement between a landlord and tenant that lays out the expectations for living in the apartment. It includes everything from how much you’ll pay for rent to your promise not to be […]