Renter’s Advice and Resources

Nothing is certain in the time of COVID-19. With cases skyrocketing in parts of the US and federal rent protections ending soon, we’re seeing millions of out-of-work renters being forced to contend with the real possibility of an impending eviction. To make matters worse, the pandemic has complicated the process of finding a new home […]

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federally funded housing assistance program governed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program is designed to provide low income families, elderly and disabled persons to choose their own residence. Section 8 is the major federal program for housing assistance and is […]

Expunging a criminal record can remove legal barriers to housing and employment. The process involves eligibility criteria, legal petitions, and court hearings. Consult legal resources for guidance on eligibility and steps for expungement.

Tenants are protected from fraudulent landlord practices under state rental laws and consumer fraud laws. However, if you don’t know how to identify fraud, then your landlord could take advantage of you without you knowing. Here are some things to be on the lookout for when it comes to fraudulent landlord practices: Verbal Communications Only […]

You have settled into your new rental and everything is going great. Then maybe a problem begins to arise regarding landlord harassment. Landlord harassment can take many forms. Let’s take a look at a few examples. Withholding Maintenance and Lack of Repairs You have been paying on time monthly, and when you noticed an item in […]

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 […]

Imagine: you come home to your apartment after a hard day’s work, ready to kick off your shoes and relax with a beer (or your beverage of choice) and put your feet up on the coffee table. But wait–what’s this? As your turning your key you notice that the door wasn’t locked. Weird–you must have just forgotten to lock it on the way out. You kick off those shoes, drop your briefcase, and head for the fridge. On your way there you notice that half the linoleum tiles are missing from your kitchen floor. Tools and linoleum dust are scattered around your kitchen counter, and your cat is interestedly licking the linoleum dust. "Get out of that!" you yell. The cat obediently jumps off the counter and trots away. You wonder if maintenance is still somewhere in the apartment. That would explain the unlocked door. "Ummm, hellooo?" you call several times, wandering around your apartment and peeping into various rooms for evidence of someone responsible for the destruction in your kitchen (maybe the cat did it–not likely, though). You feel like an intruder on your own home. After determining that no one is in the apartment with you, you look for a notice of entry from maintenance but there is nothing to be found. You call the apartment management and leave a message about the situation. Bewildered, you decide to sweep up the dust and move on with your life.

Did you know… smoke detectors are required?
The installation of smoke detectors in your apartment is legally required and usually part of your lease. According to the New York Fire Department, “Landlords must install smoke detectors in multiple-dwelling apartment buildings.” Since most fire deaths occur at home with non working smoke detectors, it is important for you and your landlord to regularly check that your smoke detector works.