Rental Properties: Know Your Rights
| The laws in the US guarantee tenants the right to have a safe, healthy and a secure residence. In addition, a tenant has the right to privacy whether he or she lives in an apartment, a house or a manufactured home. |
Security: The landlord is obliged to provide acceptable measures of security which are in working condition. These measures include things like deadlock bolts, windows and doors with latches and locks, and security bars for patio doors. These measures basically help the tenant a certain amount of security and help to protect their possessions. The landlord has to replace any items which are not in working condition and which have become defective due to normal wear and tear. However, if a tenant is ready to bear the financial burden, then a home security system can be installed, but this is not a requirement under certain state laws.
Safety and Health: The landlord should ensure that there is no serious threat to the tenant's health and safety. Therefore, the property should not have any chemical or biological toxins. Unless the tenant has caused the contamination because of negligence or willfully, the landlord has to remedy it at his expense. Smoke detectors that are in working condition should be installed, and these cannot be disconnected or disabled by the tenant.
Privacy: The landlord has the right to inspect his or her property periodically. However, he or she has to give prior intimation to the tenant. So, be wary before you ink a lease agreement. Also, if you have neighbors who are causing disturbance to you, you have the right to inform the landlord and ask him or her to deal with the neighbors.
In case your landlord does not comply with the legal requirements even after being informed in writing on several occasions, you have the right to approach a small claims court. Also, if you feel that you have been discriminated against when applying to rent the place, you can approach the local Fair Housing Council.
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