3 Things Knowing Your Local Tenant Law Can Save You From
Almost everyone who moves out of their parent’s house will initially rent their own place. It can be an apartment or a house, with one bedroom or four, but it will be rented. Because of this, almost everyone has to deal with landlords. They are generally fair to their tenants. However, if you rent long enough, or are just unlucky, you’re in for a bad one. A bad property manager can hassle you for rent from him, even if he isn’t due yet, he refuses to fix things that are broken on the property and generally make your life miserable. When you finally move in, they can do the worst trick, withhold your security deposit. Knowing your local tenant law or hiring an attorney who knows can save you from all of this.
Aggravation
The first sign that you have a bad landlord will be that they like to annoy their tenants. You may be harassed for rent every month, even if you have up to the fifth to pay. Or they could threaten you with fines for wear and tear. If you know your local laws and what is in your lease, you can quickly shut down a harassing landlord. Is the rent they are claiming in arrears? Point out that you have a signed contract that says it doesn’t expire until the fifth, no matter what anyone says. The damage you’re dealing on the ground? All rental laws have language stating that expected normal wear and tear on items, caused by normal, everyday use, cannot be penalized.
Refusal to fix items
Property owners often get into the business of renting out their properties because it seems like easy money. However, a full month’s rent, or more, can disappear when repairs are needed on the property. This is why many homeowners will ignore repair requests. Knowing your local tenant law can help you understand what items your landlord is legally required to fix and what you can do if he or she doesn’t fix them in a timely manner. Even luxuries like a dishwasher need to be fixed, since you entered into the contract with the understanding that the property had a dishwasher.
Security deposit withheld
The most common and frustrating thing landlords do is keep all or part of your security deposit after you’ve moved out. They may fabricate damage or have exorbitant cleaning fees to justify not paying you back. Most tenant laws require the return of the deposit within a certain period, often 30 days. If part of the deposit is withheld, many jurisdictions require an explanation and even receipts. If your property manager does not follow these laws, he or she can often recover all or part of the withheld deposit. Local statutes can also give you a clearer understanding of whether they were committing a crime.
In conclusion, knowing your local tenant law is important as it can save you from harassment, complete your repairs, and help you receive your security deposit intact.