Renters' Rights: The Basics

Introduction\ Looking for a place? No problem -- with money, great references, no pets, not too many roommates -- it's a breeze!" If your reaction to this line is "Unfortunately, that doesn't describe me," read on. You don't have to be wealthy or squeaky clean to get the rental you want -- just savvy.\ \ \ The good news. Thanks to federal and state anti-discrimination laws, landlords are limited in what they can say and do when selecting tenants. Basically, unless a landlord has a legitimate business reason for turning you down, she risks running afoul of these laws, which can spell big legal trouble for her. Because anti-discrimination laws are so important, we devote a whole chapter to them -- Chapter 5.\ The sobering news. Aside from complying with anti-discrimination laws, landlords have a lot of leeway in choosing tenants. Landlords are legally free to chose whomever they think will be the best, most stable tenant -- ideally, someone who pays the rent on time and won't cause any problems.\ Since landlords can choose tenants based on their likelihood of being "maintenance-free," applicants with a shadow or two in their past (a bad reference, a few late rent payments) or a shaky present (low income relative to the monthly rent) need to know how to anticipate -- and head off -- the landlord's hesitations before they solidify into a "No." And if you live in a tight rental market -- like New York City or San Francisco -- you'll need to be fast, persistent and street-smart to score a reasonably priced rental.\ This chapter alerts you to the main factors landlords consider when choosing tenants, such ascredit reports and references, and gives advice on how to improve your chances of getting a place you like -- and can afford.\ \ TENANT TRAPS \ Read this chapter to find out why you should:\ \ Never rent from a landlord who asks non-business-related questions or subjects you to an inquisitory grilling. These are red flags that indicate that the landlord does not understand -- or chooses not to follow -- the law.\ Never pay more for a credit check than a reasonable approximation of the landlord's actual costs. A landlord who gouges you on this one will do the same on another occasion.\ Never let a prospective landlord see your credit report before you do. If the report is inaccurate, you need to take immediate steps to fix it. If the report is correct but damaging, you should prepare your explanations and defenses in advance.\ Never lie on the rental application. It's the kiss of death.\ Never rent a place that you have serious misgivings about -- whether it's the landlord, the neighbors, the neighborhood or the unit itself. It may be harder than you think to get out.\ \ Legal and Illegal Reasons for Turning You Down\ A landlord is legally free to set whatever conditions he wants for a tenancy as long as they are reasonably related to his business needs and don't violate anti-discrimination laws. The Federal Fair Housing Acts (42 U.S. Code 3601) prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, familial status (having children) and physical or mental disability (including alcoholism and past drug addiction). In addition, many states and cities also prohibit discrimination based on marital status or sexual orientation. Chapter 5 discusses illegal discrimination and how to file a complaint with a fair housing agency.\ \ \ A landlord may reject you for poor credit history, income that a reasonable businessperson would deem insufficient to pay the rent, negative references from a previous landlord or employer, a criminal conviction or a prior eviction lawsuit you lost. As long as he doesn't discriminate, a landlord can basically choose whomever he wants. For example, a landlord can refuse to rent to smokers or allow pets because smokers (and pet owners) as a group are not protected by anti-discrimination laws. If your landlord's policy is no pets, no smoking or some other legitimate lease or rental agreement term, you're out of luck unless you can make some convincing arguments for your case. (Chapter 2, Section D, suggests ways to get around landlord restrictions.)\ What about roommates? A landlord can limit the number of occupants for health and safety or legitimate business reasons. A landlord may not adopt a low occupancy standard if the result eliminates families with children -- this is a violation of the fair housing laws, as discussed in Chapter 5, Section A.\ You are your own worst enemy if you lie on your rental application. Your landlord can easily find out that you don't make $50,000 per year by talking with your employer. Misrepresentations on the rental application are always legitimate grounds for rejection. And even if you slip by, ask yourself whether you want to rent from a landlord who is so careless. Would you be concerned to learn that the "former schoolteacher" next door is really a recently released rapist? If the landlord didn't check up on you, he probably didn't check up on your neighbor, either.\ 1. Rental Application Questions -- How Far Can They Go?\ Most landlords will want you to fill out a rental application with information on your employment, income, credit and financial information, rental housing history and any criminal convictions. It's legal to ask for all this information and use it to make rental decisions. Landlords may also legally ask you for your Social Security and driver's license numbers and (except in New York) for proof of your legal residency in the United States. Landlords may even ask if you smoke or if you've ever been sued.\ How far can landlords go? They can ask for any information that will:\ \ tell them whether you're likely to be a good tenant, and\ help them find you if you skip town owing them for rent or property damage.\ \ Questions that don't relate to these two issues are probably not legal. Keep in mind, however, that not all discrimination is illegal, so some questions that may not "sound right" may, in fact be legal. (See "Are You Two, Like, Together?" below.)\ Look at it this way: When you rent a car, you're often asked for multiple forms of ID and your driving history. Renting a place to live isn't all that different: The landlord, as much as the car rental agency, needs to know whether you're a good risk and how to find you if things go awry. In fact, since rental property is a much bigger investment than a car, a landlord is motivated to be even pickier.\ \ TOO EXPENSIVE? SAYS WHO? \ Money talks, especially in rental housing. If the landlord reasonably concludes that you can't afford to pay the rent in view of your income and existing debt level (which he'll see on your credit report), he is not obligated to rent to you. Many landlords use a rent-to-income ratio of one-to-three (rent can be no more than one-third of your income) as a rule of thumb.\ As a broad generalization, you too probably don't want to spend more than 25% to 35% of your monthly take-home pay on rent, but this will obviously depend on your other expenses. And you won't want to live in a penthouse if it means you need to eat popcorn every night.\ 2. Question One, Question All\ While landlords are entitled to ask business-related questions on a rental application or during an interview, there is an important hitch: They should subject all applicants to the identical set of basic questions. As mentioned above, federal and state anti-discrimination laws make it illegal to single out members of certain groups (such as people of a certain race or ethnic background) for special treatment -- and interview or application questions that aren't directed at everyone constitute special treatment. For example, landlords who ask about immigration history should ask all tenants, not just those whom they suspect might be in the country illegally. Questioning only Hispanics would amount to illegal discrimination on the basis of national origin. Similarly, requiring credit reports only from African-Americans would also be considered illegal discrimination.\ Do a little background investigation of your own. If your prospective landlord is conscientious, he'll probably take the time to learn about your rental and employment history. There's no reason why you, too, can't ask a few questions to find out whether you want to rent from him. Ask current tenants and neighbors what it's like to live there; ask the tenant whose unit you're considering why she's moving out. If you learn that she's leaving in disgust over poor management or dreadful neighbors whom the landlord won't evict, you'll want to think twice about signing a lease or rental agreement. Keep in mind that a building with a large turnover rate, and especially one where evictions are common, is probably not run very well.\ \ ARE YOU TWO, LIKE, TOGETHER? \ Most landlords don't care a bit about who you share your bed with -- they're much more interested in whether you pay your rent on time, are a decent housekeeper and a considerate neighbor. Unfortunately, a few landlords see themselves as enforcers of their chosen code of morality. For instance, some people do not want to rent to heterosexual, unmarried couples; and some refuse to rent to homosexual couples.\ In most states, landlords can get away with these kinds of choices. That's because unmarried straight couples and gay and lesbian couples are not protected by anti-discrimination laws except in a few states. (See Chapter 5, Section B.) This means that in most states it would not be illegal for a landlord to question you and your would-be roommate about the nature of your relationship.\ If you and your friend are questioned concerning your relationship, what should you do? This is an issue for all roommates, even the ones who are just friends and heterosexual, whom the landlord would presumably welcome with no problem. Think about what this line of questioning bodes for future dealings with this landlord: Here is a businessperson who is inappropriately interested in his customers' private lives. Chances are he spends his time and energy checking up on his tenants' love lives, at the expense of running a pleasant and livable building. If at all possible, look elsewhere.

Introduction1. Play the Landlord's Game and WinA. Legal and Illegal Reasons for Turning You DownB. Your Credit Report Can Make or Break Your ApplicationC. References Are All-ImportantD. Smart Moves: How to Find a Good PlaceE. How to Impress Prospective Landlords2. Leases and Rental AgreementsA. How Written Leases and Rental Agreements DifferB. Who Should Sign a Lease or Rental AgreementC. Typical Provisions in Leases and Rental AgreementsD. Negotiating With the LandlordE. Common Negotiation IssuesF. Signing a Lease or Rental AgreementG. Get It in Writing: A Letter of Understanding3. Rent RulesA. Rent Gouging: Isn't There a Law Against It?B. The Nitty-Gritty on Where and How to Pay RentC. Mabel, Isn't There a Grace Period?D. What To Do -- and Not To Do -- If You Can't Pay Rent on TimeE. Late Rent FeesF. Tenancy Terminations for Nonpayment of RentG. Rent IncreasesH. The Landlord's Right to Change Other Rent Terms4. Security DepositsA. Dollar Limits on Security DepositsB. How Landlords May Increase DepositsC. What's the Money For?D. Last Month's RentE. Nonrefundable Deposits and FeesF. Are You Entitled to Interest on Your Deposit?G. How Your Landlord's Bankruptcy or Property Sale Affects Your Deposit5. DiscriminationA. Discrimination Prohibited by Federal LawsB. Kinds of Discrimination Prohibited by State and Local LawC. How to Fight Back6. RoommatesA. Renting a Place with OthersB. When a Roommate Walks OutC. Adding a New RoommateD. Taking In a Roomer7. Repairs and MaintenanceA. Your Right to ALivable PlaceB. Your Repair and Maintenance ResponsibilitiesC. Persuading Your Landlord to Do Major RepairsD. Using Heavy Artillery for Major RepairsE. Laying the Minor Repair Job on the LandlordF. Getting the Landlord to Make Minor Repairs8. Tenants' Rights to PrivacyA. Entry by the LandlordB. Entry by OthersC. Limits On Your GuestsD. How to Get Your Landlord to Back Off9. How Tenancies Change and EndA. Changing Your Tenancy Without Ending ItB. How Month-to-Month Tenancies EndC. What Happens When Your Lease Runs OutD. Breaking a Lease and Leaving Early10. Getting Your Deposit BackA. How Your Landlord May Use Your DepositB. The Mechanics of Getting the Deposit BackC. Avoiding Fights Over DepositsD. Suing to Get the Deposit Back11. Landlord RetaliationA. Where Does the Law Protect You?B. What Is Retaliation?C. Responding to RetaliationD. Proving That It's Retaliation12. Rent ControlA. Property Subject to Rent ControlB. Limits on RentC. Evictions in Rent Control AreasD. Interest Payments on Security DepositsE. Special Notice RequirementsF. Bypassing the Rent Control Ordinance13. Getting Help With Your DisputeA. How to Negotiate a SettlementB. Using a MediatorC. Small Claims CourtAppendix 1: How to Find Landlord-Tenant Laws OnlineA. State LawsB. Local OrdinancesC. Federal Statutes and RegulationsAppendix 2: State LawsState Landlord-Tenant StatutesState Rent RulesNotice Required to Change or Terminate a Month-to-Month TenancyState Security Deposit RulesState Laws on Rent Withholding and Repair-and-Deduct RemediesState Laws on Landlord's Access to Rental PropertyThe Landlord's Duty to ReRent the PremisesState Laws Prohibiting Landlord Retaliation

\ From Barnes & NobleNolo is one of the most popular -- and most trusted -- publishers of legal guides for nonlawyers. This book answers all the issues that come up when you are renting an apartment or house -- from leases and security deposits to roommate dilemmas and clogged pipes.\ \ \ \ \ Houston ChronicleGet Portman's Renters Rights: The Basics... and research quirks in rental law specific to the state where your teen will be going to college.\ \ \ Long Beach Press-TelegramAs user-friendly as it informative, Renter Rights' concludes each chapter with a list of key points, so readers can get right to the information they need when they need it.\ \ \ \ \ Sacramento BeeI wish this book had been available when I graduated from college and rented my first apartment from a greedy landlord who gouged her tenants at every opportunity.\ \ \ \ \ San Francisco ChronicleIf you expect Renter's Rights... to be dull, boring and irrelevant...think again. This new book relates to everyday, residential rental situations in all states.\ \ \ \ \ Long Beach Press TelegramAs user-friendly as it informative, Renter Rights' concludes each chapter with a list of key points, so readers can get right to the information they need when they need it.\ \ \ \ \ Long Beach Press TelegramAs user-friendly as it informative, Renter Rights' concludes each chapter with a list of key points, so readers can get right to the information they need when they need it.\ \ \ \ \ Orlando SentinelIf landlords nationwide were to recommend [this] book to renters, I'd bet only half of today's landlord/tenant problems would exist in the future.\ \ \ \ \ Orlando SentinelIf landlords nationwide were to recommend [this] book to renters, I'd bet only half of today's landlord/tenant problems would exist in the future.\ \ \ \ \ Robert J. BrussThis new book is another in [Nolo's] series that makes learning about legal topics interesting and almost fun. Well written, well researched and practical describe this thorough rental-law guide book. On my scale of one to 10, this outstanding book rates an off-the-chart 12. \ — Los Angeles Times\ \ \ \ \ Sacramento BeeI wish this book had been available when I graduated from college and rented my first apartment from a greedy landlord who gouged her tenants at every opportunity.\ \ \ \ \ Sacramento BeeI wish this book had been available when I graduated from college and rented my first apartment from a greedy landlord who gouged her tenants at every opportunity.\ \ \ \ \ San Francisco ChronicleIf you expect Renter's Rights...to be dull, boring and irrelevant...think again. This new book relates to everyday, residential rental situations in all states.\ \ \ \ \ San Francisco ChronicleIf you expect Renter's Rights...to be dull, boring and irrelevant...think again. This new book relates to everyday, residential rental situations in all states.\ \ \ \ \ San Jose Mercury NewsThis lively, practical and occasionally humorous new book... is another in the Nolo series that makes learning about legal topics interesting and almost fun.\ \ \ \ \ San Jose Mercury NewsThis lively, practical and occasionally humorous new book... is another in the Nolo Press series that makes learning about legal topics interesting and almost fun.\ \ \ \ \ BooknewsAttorney Portman and consumer writer Stewart update their 1999 guide for renters. They take up such matters as playing and winning the landlord's game to get a desired unit, signing a fair lease or agreement and avoiding traps, getting along with roommates, dealing with snoopy landlords and troublesome neighbors, and understanding rent control laws. They include state-by-state charts and lists of laws, but no bibliography. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)\ \ \ \ \ Orlando SentinelIf landlords nationwide were to recommend [this] book to renters, I'd bet only half of today's landlord/tenant problems would exist in the future.\ \ \ \ \ San Jose Mercury NewsThis lively, practical and occasionally humorous new book... is another in the Nolo series that makes learning about legal topics interesting and almost fun.\ \