This document provides an overview of tenants' and landlords' rights and responsibilities. It discusses key aspects of renting such as lease terms, security deposits, maintenance responsibilities, and legal guidelines around discrimination and eviction. The rights of both tenants and landlords are outlined, along with tips for renters such as taking photos of the property and obtaining rental references.

2. You’re living on your own
now
You must know the rights
and responsibilities of
The Tenant (that’s you)
The Landlord

3. Tenant: Somebody who
rents a house or apartment
for a fixed period of time.
Landlord: A person that
owns property that is
rented to tenants.

4. Know average rent for
area
Cost of Living
Calculator
Compare rent
between two cities

5. Length of the lease
 Month-to-month
 6 months
 1 year
Amount of Rent
Amount of security deposit

6.  Application Fee for Screening
 Credit Check & bankruptcies
 Employment & Income
 Rental History & Evictions
 References
Applies to each tenant
Non-Refundable

7.  Legal
Poor Credit History
Insufficient income
Bad references
Past behavior
destruction of
property
Tenants would
exceed valid
occupancy policy
 Illegal
Race
Religion
Ethnic background or
national origin
Sex
Age
Tenant has children
(except in senior housing)
Mental or physical
disability
Some states: Marital
status or sexual
orientation

8. Month-to-month rental
agreement. An unspecified period
of time, with rent usually payable
on a monthly basis.
Provides flexibility if you’re
not sure how long you’ll stay
Rent or rules can be changed
at anytime

9.  Lease: An agreement that requires a
tenant to stay for a specific amount of
time and restricts the landlord’s ability
to change the terms.
 Usually requires at least a 6-to-12
month commitment
 Rent and rules stay the same for the
lease period.

10.  Be prepared to sign a lot of paperwork.
 Keep these guidelines in mind:
 Request a copy of the paperwork in
advance. You can review it at your own
pace.
 Become familiar with rental lingo.
 Read every word before you sign!
 Remember if you sign it you’re liable for
it

11.  How much can a landlord charge for a
deposit?
 Varies by state: some have no limit
 Usually not more than 1 or 2
months of rent
When does the landlord have to return
the deposit?
 Varies by state: 14 days to “within
a reasonable time”

12.  The length of tenancy
 The amount of rent and deposits the tenant
must pay
 The number of people who can live on the
rentals property
 Who pays for utilities
 Whether the tenant may have pets
 Whether the tenant must sublet the property
 The landlords access to the rental property,
and
 Who pays attorney fees if there is a lawsuit

13. Giving up your right to
defend yourself in court
Limiting the landlord’s
liability for things they’re
normally responsible for

14.  Weatherproofing
 Available heat
 Water
 Electricity
 Clean, Sanitary,& structurally safe
 Smoke detectors
 Security-Locks & keys

15.  Pay rent and utilities on time
 Comply with local ordinances
 Noise
 Business out of home
Keep unit clean and sanitary
Dispose of garbage properly
Respect common areas
Lobbies, garages, and pools

16.  Properly operate
heating, plumbing, and electrical
systems
 Don’t intentionally or carelessly
damage dwelling
 Don’t interfere with other tenants
use of the property
 Return the unit into the same
condition as when you moved in

17.  Important for each tenant
 Landlords insurance won’t cover your
loss
 Insurance covers loss to belongings:
 From fire & theft
 Depends on value of policy: $25K-
50K
 Deductibles start at $250

18. Get landlord’s approval
Will adding a roommate
exceed the occupancy limit?
Will your new roommate
meet your landlords good
tenant criteria?

19.  Adding a roommate to the
lease or rental Agreement
 New lease
More Roommates, More Rent
 More wear & tear
Security Deposit Increases

20.  May need to
 Make repairs
 Show property
 Must give notice
 Varies by states from 24 hours to “
reasonable notice
 No notice needed
 Emergency
 Fire
 Serious water leak
 Abandonment
 You can’t refuse access

21.  Put your request in writing
 Give landlord time to respond. Required
response time varies by state but generally:
 24 hours for no heat or cold water, heat,
electricity, or for other hazardous or life-
threatening conditions
 72 hours for refrigerator, range, oven or
major plumbing problems
 10 days for all other repairs

22.  Options when the landlord won’t repair:
 Pay less rent
 Withhold rent
 Make repairs
 Hire a professional & deduct cost from
rent
 Call building inspector
 Mediate or go to court
 Move out (give notice)
 Varies by state

23.  Not paying rent
 Even if one day late with rent
 Three-day notice to pay or move out
required
 Not complying with term of rental agreement
 Ten day notice to comply or move out
required
 For creating a waste or nuisance
 Three day notice to move out required
 No option to stay to correct problem

24.  No cause
 Varies by state
 Twenty-day notice required
 May not be discriminatory or retaliatory
 If tenant refuses to vacate, landlord can
obtain court order and request sheriff to
move belongings

25.  Even if you’re behind in rent
 Lockouts
 Utility shutoffs
 Taking your property (unless you
abandon it)
 Retaliatory action

26.  Tenant can legally break the lease it.
 Landlord fails to Make repairs
 Fails to comply with health & safety
 Tenant responsible for reminder of rent
under lease term
 Landlord has duty to find a new tenant

27.  Landlord can legally break the lease if:
 Tenant pays rent late, has a dog
under a no-pet cause, or damages
property.
 Land lord may:
 Give time to change i.e. find a new
home for the dog
 Ask tenant to leave
 How varies by state

28.  Provide written notice according to
your rental or lease agreement
 Rental: Usually 30-day notice
 Lease: You’re responsible for
rent for remaining leasing term
unless landlord can rent unit

29. Clean apartment and leave
in same condition as when
you moved in (except
normal wear and tear)
Leave forwarding address
for deposit return

30. Ask parents to walk
through rental with you
Take pictures of everything
( include date on photo)
Go through rental check list

31.  Your state Attorney General’s
office
 Your state Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) department
 www.lawhelp.org
 Choose your state/Housing
Download state-specific
information