Whether you have a good relationship with your landlord as a tenant or not, it is always wise for you to have a copy of your local Tenants Rights Guide and be familiar with it. As a tenant you have certain rights and as a landlord there are certain obligations that must be met. These rights and obligations apply whether or not you have an oral or a written agreement, although they may change depending on the area and the type of housing in which you live.
Your Tenants’ Rights Guide will include the obligation of a landlord to provide an environment that is clean and safe for habitation. It is almost universally mandatory for a tenant to demand that working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors be installed in residential areas.
Appliances that are included in a lease agreement must be kept in proper working order and must be prepared within a reasonable amount of time by the landlord.
It is a right to live in an environment that is comfortable and this can include the obligation of the landlord to maintain hot water and heat as well as other utilities as mandated by the lease agreement. If your landlord fails to maintain the payments to the utility company, the tenant has the ability to make those payments directly to the utility company. If this is the case the tenant can then deduct the amounts paid from their monthly rent.
Particularly in areas where the temperature drops substantially during the winter months there are rules regarding the minimum temperature that must be maintained by a landlord. Depending on where you are, there are certain times of year where this is measured and if the landlord does not adhere to the rules stipulated in your area, you may have the right to sue the landlord.
Generally you do not have the right to leave your lease early unless you receive written permission from your landlord. There are exceptions to this and they can include your obligation for service in the military, as well as situations like dire medical problems or allowances for senior citizens.
The laws vary in different areas but generally you have the right to have immediate family members live with you and to share your accommodation. It is usually mandated that you must provide a landlord written notice of an additional tenant within 30 days of them moving into the apartment.
If you have pets you should read your lease agreement carefully. Often a landlord can have the ability to begin eviction proceedings if you break the lease agreement so it is better to be aware before signing.
Whether you have been served an eviction notice or not, it is important to be aware that under no circumstances can a landlord threaten you physically or tell you to leave without going through the proper legal channels. The only entity that can remove you from your rental premises is a sheriff or other duly appointed enforcement officer.
Knowing your rights and demanding that they are met is something that every tenant should do, so that they can enjoy a reasonable standard of life.
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