Finding the apartment of your dreams can be both exciting and scary. This is especially true if it is the first time you have lived on your own or rented an apartment. While your landlord owns the property you are renting, it is important to remember that you also have certain rights as a renter. These rights are typically spelled out in both state and local statutes and vary from place to place.
- Rent amount – Rent control is not always a factor in every municipality, but it is common in many lower income neighborhoods. This statute limits the amount that your landlord can charge based on the property values and other factors in the area.
- Property condition – Rental property should be maintained to a certain standard of living and be habitable. At the very minimum, this means it must be pest free and have functional plumbing, electricity and heat.
- Access – Once a tenant moves into a property, the landlord is required to give advanced notice before they enter the property unless it is an emergency situation such as flooding or a fire.
- Eviction – If a tenant does not follow the rental agreement, the landlord has the right to evict them from the property. The conditions that might warrant an eviction could include failure to pay rent, having animals in the property, unauthorized individuals living in the property or other items as spelled out in the agreement.
- Discrimination – Housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, status or disability are illegal under federal laws. Rental discrimination is enforced by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Disclosure – Depending upon the local ordinances, the landlord may be required to disclose information about past rental circumstances such as if a death occurred in the property.
- Liability – Local laws address who is liable in the event of an accident on the property. However, in most cases the landlord’s insurance will only cover the dwelling and not the renter’s items. Because of this, it is important for renters to look into rental insurance to cover their belongings in case of fire, flood or another disaster.
If you are considering renting, contact Allstate insurance agent, Melissa Ziegler-Penzato to discuss your options with regards to rental insurance. She can help you decide the amount of coverage you will need for adequate protection of all your valued belongings.
