Knowing privileges as a tenant is the first step toward having a positive experience. Although rental laws differ by jurisdiction, these basic guidelines clarify what you have the right to expect as a renter—and what you should do to protect yourself. Knowing these will be useful if you want to work with a moving company for relocation.
The Right to Equal Housing Opportunity
Rental regulations state that you cannot be refused accommodation because of your ethnicity, sex, skin color, age, national origin, nationality, family status, or mental or physical impairment, regardless of where you reside. The statutory Fair Housing Act, which was enacted as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, protects this privilege.
Discrimination isn’t always easy to detect. If you believe you are being refused a rental unit because of some of the reasons mentioned above, you can file a report with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Such leasing regulations relating to your equal housing privileges include the requirement that your landlord provides adequate exceptions for you if you have an impairment, as well as the requirement that your landlord informs you immediately if your application was denied due to the outcome of your credit review.
Your Security Deposit Is Your Right
Since a security deposit may be a high rental cost, it’s essential to understand the rental laws around it so that you don’t overpay—and so you get your money back by the end of the contract.
The laws governing security deposits differ by jurisdiction. Still, in general, landlords are not permitted to charge higher security deposits to certain tenants than to others (unless there is a particular, agreed-upon consideration, such as a pet).
The Right to a Safe and Comfortable Residence
Landlords are responsible for ensuring that every property they rent out is good enough to be deemed clean and habitable. This involves ensuring that services such as coal, water, and energy are accessible and address any remotely hazardous features such as uncovered wires or damaged stairs. Furthermore, if your unit requires any immediate maintenance, your landlord is responsible for arranging and paying for them. This way, you might need to postpone your contract with your moving company until the unit is ready.
Bear in mind that this provision would not apply to all repair demands. So, while you’re promised hot water and home clear of pests and mice, the landlord isn’t legally obligated to repair minor (but potentially dangerous) annoyances like leaky sinks or chipped paint.
Privacy is a fundamental right.
The landlord is not allowed to access your unit whenever it suits them. The amount of notice a landlord must give you before accessing your unit for renovations, showings, or some other excuse varies by state, but notice is still given.
If you’re not sure how much notice your landlord is required to provide, consult your contract and state laws. And if your landlord stipulated a shortened notice period in the contract and you accepted, they are always bound by the leasing laws in your region. It is at least 24 hours in most nations.
The Right to a Legally Appropriate Eviction Process
No renter wishes to be evicted, but if it does, there are leasing rules in effect to cover you and allow you time to make some plans. These regulations include both the reasons the landlord can evict you (for example, severe property damage, failure to pay rent, and lease violations) and others (for example, failure to pay rent, extensive property damage, and lease violations)
A formal eviction begins with a written warning accompanied by a court appearance and a trial. If the judge decides in the landlord’s favor, you will be given a certain amount of time to appeal until the final lockout. You have the legal right to prosecute the landlord whether he or she does not obey the eviction procedures as defined in your jurisdiction.
The Right to Be Notified Until Rent Increases
Within the duration of your contract, the landlord is not allowed to lift the rent. Although they may lift it between contract periods, a rent increase from one lease to the next can never be unexpected. State rental regulations require 30 to 60 days’ notice until a rent rise. This gives you enough time to locate new accommodation if you can no longer pay the new monthly rent.
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