This guide for tenants focuses on ways to avoid common rental-related problems, use new legal protections, understand and sign lease or rental agreements and protect security deposits without hiring a lawyer. Original. Illustrations.
"This book provides legal and practical information for tenants and also contains dozens of sample letters and forms. Topics discussed include: getting landlords to make repairs by using rent withholding or repair-and-deduct; avoiding disputes with roommates over rent, deposits, guests, and noise; fighting illegal discrimination, retaliation, or sexual harassment; dealing with environmental hazards like lead paint, mold, or bedbugs; breaking a lease with minimum liability; and getting a security deposit returned on time. Also included are the latest state-by-state laws, including rent rules, rent control, security deposit rules, and termination notice requirements"--
Renters have many legal rights—learn yours and how to protect them! Every Tenant’s Legal Guide gives renters the legal and practical advice they need to protect their rights, fight their own battles, and fully understand the implications of renting a place to live. The book gives in-depth information renters need in order to:
• find a great home with a trustworthy landlord
• understand and sign a lease or rental agreement
• protect their security deposit
• rent with a pet
• fight improper rent increases and fees
• get a landlord to make repairs
• protect their privacy
• fight illegal discrimination
• handle roommate problems
• deal with lead paint, mold, asbestos, and bed bugs
• break a lease with minimum financial liability, and
• formulate a plan if faced with eviction.
With downloadable forms: Includes move-in and move-out forms, and security deposit demand letter—available for download (details inside).
More states than ever before are passing laws—such as rent control and eviction prevention laws—to protect tenants. This book helps renters navigate and use these new protections (along with the old ones) to their advantage, and offers timely advice on how tenants can handle common rental-related problems without assistance from a lawyer.
