Renters' Rights

by Janet Portman; Marcia Stewart

• ISBN13: 9780873374118
• ISBN10: 0873374118
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-04-01
• Publisher: Nolo.Com

Summary

This updated reference to renters' rights includes information on leases and rental agreements, discrimination, rent, security deposits, privacy, roommates, and more.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Play the Landlord's Game and Win
Legal and Illegal Reasons for Turning You Down	3	(4)
Your Credit Report Can Make or Break Your Application	7	(6)
References Are All-Important	13	(3)
Smart Moves: How to Find a Good Place	16	(2)
How to Impress Prospective Landlords	18
Leases and Rental Agreements
How Written Leases and Rental Agreements Differ	3	(4)
Who Should Sign a Lease or Rental Agreement	7	(2)
Typical Provisions in Leases and Rental Agreements	9	(7)
Negotiating With the Landlord	16	(8)
Common Negotiation Issues	24	(6)
Signing a Lease or Rental Agreement	30	(1)
Get it in Writing: A Letter of Understanding	30
Rent Rules
Rent Gouging: Isn't There a Law Against it?	2	(1)
The Nitty-Gritty on Where and How to Pay Rent	3	(2)
Mable, Isn't There a Grace Period?	5	(1)
What To Do---And Not to do---If You Can't Pay Rent on Time	6	(2)
Late Rent Fees	8	(2)
Tenancy Terminations for Nonpayment of Rent	10	(1)
Rent Increases	11	(3)
The Landlord's Right to Change Other Rent Terms	14
Security Deposits
Dollar Limits on Security Deposits	3	(1)
How Landlords May Increase Deposits	4	(1)
Where does the Money Go?	4	(1)
Last Month's Rent	5	(1)
Nonrefundable Deposits and Fees	6	(1)
Are You Entitled to Interest on Your Deposit?	7	(1)
How Your Landlord's Bankruptcy or Property Sale Affects your Deposit	8
Discrimination
Discrimination Prohibited by Federal Laws	3	(7)
Kinds of Discrimination Prohibited by State and Local Law	10	(1)
How to Fight Back	11
Roommates
Renting a Place with Others	4	(7)
When a Roommate Walks Out	11	(2)
Adding a New Roommate	13	(2)
Taking in a Roomer	15
Repairs and Maintenance
Your Right to a Livable Place	3	(7)
Your Repair and Maintenance Responsibilities	10	(2)
Persuading Your Landlord to do Major Repairs	12	(2)
Using Heavy Artillery for Major Repairs	14	(10)
Laying the Minor Repair Job on the Landlord	24	(3)
Getting the Landlord to Make Minor Repair	27
Tenants' Rights to Privacy
Entry by the Landlord	4	(5)
Entry by Others	9	(1)
Limits on Your Guests	10	(2)
How to Get Your Landlord to Back Off	12
How Tenancies Change and End
Changing Your Tenancy Without Ending It	3	(4)
How Month-to-Month Tenancies End	7	(5)
What Happens When Your Lease Runs Out	12	(1)
Breaking a Lease and Leaving Early	13
Getting Your Deposit Back
How Your Landlord May Use Your Deposit	2	(2)
The Mechanics of Getting the Deposit Back	4	(2)
Avoiding Fights Over Deposits	6	(2)
Suing to Get the Deposit Back	8
Landlord Retaliation
Where Does the Law Protect You?	3	(2)
What is Retaliation?	5	(1)
Responding to Retaliation	5	(3)
Proving That it's Retaliation	8
Rent Control
Property Subject to Rent Control	4	(1)
Limits on Rent	5	(1)
Evictions in Rent Control Areas	6	(2)
Interest Payments on Security Deposits	8	(1)
Special Notice Requirements	8	(1)
Bypassing the Rent Control Ordinance	9
Getting Help with Your Dispute
How to Negotiate a Settlement	2	(2)
Using a Mediator	4	(3)
Small Claims Court	7
APPENDIX 1 HOW TO FIND YOUR STATE STATUTES ONLINE
APPENDIX 2 STATE LAWS AND AGENCIES
Landlord-Tenant Statutes	2	(2)
State Rent Rules	4	(4)
Notice Required to Change or Terminate a Month-to-Month Tenancy	8	(2)
State Security Deposit Laws	10	(4)
State Fair Housing Agencies	14	(4)
State Consumer Protection Offices	18	(5)
State Laws on Rent Withholding and Repair-and-Deduct Remedies	23	(2)
State Laws on Landlord's Access to Rental Property	25	(2)
State Laws Prohibiting Landlord Retaliation	27	(3)
Selected Rent Control Ordinances	30