Renter’s Advice and Resources

The single best part of being a renter is that even though you’re expected to keep the apartment in decent condition while you’re living there, you’re not necessarily responsible for its upkeep (i.e. dealing with electrical, heating, or structural issues).

Most of us choose our apartment for the look, the feel, the size, the location. We usually wait until after we move in to start thinking about how hard it might be to keep things working smoothly inside. Here are some easy tips to have in mind while you’re looking, to save some headaches and […]

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 […]

A little foresight can go a long way toward avoiding costly, protracted battles with an unscrupulous apartment management company. Although most management companies are honest and fair, some are looking out for their own interests first, not yours. Follow a few simple guidelines to protect yourself from the most common potential problems. Get It in […]

A leaky roof has the potential to cause major damage to your belongings, and it must be dealt with immediately. Homeowners have to worry about repairing the roof, but you don’t since you’re renting. However, you do have to let the landlord know there’s a problem, so that they can fix it.  You should also […]

When it comes to asking your landlord to make repairs, the success of the request depends on how it is made. If a landlord thinks that you are not going to stand up for yourself and cause a fuss, you may end up last on the list. In that scenario, other, more demanding tenants may […]

Rental laws require that your landlord maintains your apartment. This means that your apartment should be inhabitable and you have the right to timely repairs of appliances and damages to the apartment structure that cause a safety or sanitary issue. Here’s a review of some of your landlord’s maintenance responsibilities: Major Repairs Some of the […]

You’ve probably lived in an apartment at some point in your life. Maybe you’re still an apartment-dweller, or maybe you moved on to a house. Regardless of your situation, you’re now wondering if condominium living could be right for you. It’s not just for old people anymore, after all—new homeowners are considering condominiums for affordability, just as individuals at retirement age are considering them to downsize from a home to a more manageable property. Read on for some facts about condo that may ultimately affect your decision to sign that condominium contract.

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.