Renter’s Advice and Resources

So you’ve found that perfect apartment, and now the last step is to sign the rental contract. Before signing the rental contract, there are 5 questions that you must ask the landlord. Make sure that you are comfortable with the landlord’s responses before signing. 1 – What Are the Terms of the Security Deposit? The […]

A lease agreement, also known as a rental agreement, is a legal document that is written to specify the agreed terms and responsibilities the landlord or owner and you, as the tenant, have for the specified property. Why a Lease Agreement is Necessary A lease agreement is a very necessary part of rental transactions because […]

Renting a room or apartment from family may sound wonderful at first. Before you pack your bags, why not sleep on it for a little while? Letting the idea sink in and ensuring this is the right thing to do may end up saving you some time and a relationship. This time may also enable you to decide what you are going to do to ensure that your renting relationship is at a business level, securing your personal/family relationship.

We first started this blog in 2005 and we wanted to bring a few posts back to the forefront to help those of you who will be moving this spring or summer. Because landlord-tenant issues are so common, the most important legal posts are grouped below. We hope these are useful as you start planning your next move.

Are you ready to leave your tiny, expensive apartment for a bigger, cheaper, better place? Congratulations! But before you hire the movers and turn in your keys, you have something to take care of first. You’ll need to write a lease termination letter to your landlord.

California "Notice to Quit" Requirements Change:

As of January 1st, 2007, new legislation has changed “notice to quit” requirements for California landlords. A notice to quit is a formal notice ending the rental agreement or a request that the tenant relinquish the rental property to the landlord. The new legislation requires landlords to give tenants a 60-day notice to quit, rather than the former 30-day notice requirement. The law only applies when the lease term is month-to-month and the tenant has rented the property for a year or more. If you are a California renter, keep these facts in mind:

When it’s time to renew your lease, you don’t necessarily have to succumb to your landlord’s demands. If you’ve been a good tenant, you can engage in some savvy negotiation to get a better deal. It’s always easier for the apartment management to have a guaranteed good tenant than to have to seek out a new tenant with unknown payment and residential habits. These suggestions may help you get on your way to negotiating a better agreement with your landlord when re-signing your lease.

So you’ve got a new job in a different town, or maybe you’re moving in with your significant other. Perhaps a flight of fancy has gripped you and you’ve decided to embark on a whirlwind journey across the world. Regardless of the reason, you need to move out of your apartment, and you want to find someone to sublet your apartment for the remainder of your lease term, or for as long as you’ll be away from the apartment. What do you need to know and do in this situation? The following tips will help you create a successful sublease experience.

Unless you’re a real estate lawyer, a landlord, or you just like reading over lease documents, the legal terminology in your lease might not be used in your everyday vocabulary. Terms such as buyout clause, sublease, and termination could help you break your lease, if you know how to use the legal jargon to your advantage. Here are a few general terms to help you through your lease.