Things Your Landlord Doesn’t Want You to Know
Knowing your rights as a tenant can help protect you from dishonest landlords and predatory leasing agents. So, what are the things your landlord doesn’t want you to know? You might be unaware that your landlord is responsible for several things, and it’s important to know what they are. Being aware of your rights can also help you understand your responsibilities as a tenant.
This article encompasses all the vital information regarding tenant rights, ranging from handling unexpected visits to addressing rent hikes, maintenance issues, and security deposits. Read on and discover the 20 secret tenant rights.
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1.Right to Refuse Entry
Your landlord or letting agent must give you at least 24 hours written notice before entering your home. If they don’t give you enough notice or if they want to come at an inconvenient time, you can politely decline their offer. However, do not postpone meetings for no reason, mainly if they are for maintenance or inspections.
2. Right to Refuse Viewings
You can refuse to viewings if you haven’t been given enough notice or they are causing a lot of trouble. Even though it’s important to let your host show the property, you should limit how often and when this can happen.
3. Right to Challenge Rent Increases
The rent can only be increased under certain circumstances, and the landlord must provide adequate notice. You have the right to reject a rent increase if it violates the terms of your lease or to negotiate a decrease if you believe it is excessive. Tenant rent increases should be reasonable and consistent with market conditions.
4. Right to Quiet Enjoyment
You should be able to enjoy your home without constantly having to negotiate with your landlord or the management company. This may involve frequent messages, visits to your home, or checks on your whereabouts. If your landlord is disturbing your quiet enjoyment of your home, you may want to take legal action.
5. Right to Deposit Protection
Your landlord is obligated to protect your security deposit in a government-approved scheme and inform you of the details of that plan. If the landlord does not comply, you may seek compensation of up to three times the initial security deposit.
6. Right to a Lifetime Deposit
The lifetime deposit lets you shift your deposit from one residence to another without needing an upfront payment for a new deposit. This feature facilitates and reduces the expense of transitioning between rental properties.
7. Right to Keep Pets
Landlords cannot outright forbid tenants from having pets on their properties. Even though there are circumstances in which they can refuse a pet, they must consider listening to any request to keep a tenant’s pet and provide a valid explanation for declining them.
8. Right to a Clean Property
If your lease doesn’t stipulate it, there’s no obligation to hire a professional cleaning service upon termination. You just have to restore the property to its original condition when you first occupied it, but you can do this on your own too.
9. Right to Essential Repairs
Landlords are in charge of big repairs and must fix things that could harm your health. If they disagree, you can insist on it and make sure the work gets done.
10. Right to a Fair Lease
Property owners must include specific elements in their rental agreements, and they cannot transfer all their legal obligations onto the tenant. If your lease is incomplete or incorrect, the regulations will be determined by the legal provisions or laws.
11. Right to a Returned Holding Deposit
Under specific conditions, if you didn’t rent the property, you might be eligible to receive your holding deposit back. Such circumstances encompass failing a financial assessment or not passing an immigration check without being given a written explanation within a seven-day period.
12. Right to a Safe and Habitable Environment
It is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure the safety and comfort of their tenants. This means that the building must meet certain health and safety standards, such as having adequate heating, plumbing, electrical systems, and pest control.
13. Right to Privacy
Landlords must respect tenants’ right to privacy in their rented properties. Landlords are not permitted to enter the property unless there is an emergency or they have been given prior notice and a valid reason.
14. Right to Non-Discrimination
Property owners are prohibited from discriminating against prospective or existing tenants on the basis of race, color, nationality, religious beliefs, gender, family status, disability, or other factors safeguarded by state or local legislation.
15. Right to Know about Environmental Hazards
Tenants are entitled to be informed of any environmental dangers, such as lead-based paint, mold, asbestos, or radon, present on the property. Landlords have to disclose this information prior to the signing of a lease agreement.
16. Right to Terminate the Lease under Specific Circumstances
Tenants hold the right to end their lease prematurely in specific situations, including instances of domestic abuse, military service, or severe health concerns. It is essential to review local regulations for detailed information on provisions regarding early lease termination.
17. Right to a Fair Eviction Process
Tenants are entitled to a lawful and fair eviction procedure. Proper procedures, such as providing written notice and allowing the tenant a reasonable amount of time to fix any issues, must be followed before a landlord can legally evict a tenant.
18. Right to Complain without Retaliation
Tenants should feel safe making requests for maintenance or filing complaints with the landlord. Rent increases, eviction, and refusal to renew a lease are all examples of possible retaliatory measures.
19. Right to Receive Interest on Security Deposit (in some jurisdictions)
In certain locations, renters have to pay taxes on security deposits if they do not receive back the security deposit for a duration exceeding a specified limit or if the deposit’s value surpasses a particular amount.
20. Right to Fair Application and Screening Process
Tenants-to-be have to submit a transparent and fair application and screening procedure. Landlords can’t set unreasonable requirements or charge excessive fees to apply.
Final words
This post discussed the 20 things your landlord doesn’t want you to know. As a tenant, it is your responsibility to be familiar with the preceding rights and regulations regarding your rented home. The following list of tenant’s rights serves as your guide; however, you should take note that these vary depending on the state’s jurisdiction.
By knowing the rules about entry, viewings, rent increases, deposits, and repairs, you can keep landlords from mistreating you. Use this complete guide to learn everything you need to know about your rental and move through it with ease.
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