Your Questions About Renter Rights

Real Estate Facts and Information

March 11th, 2011 by Land Lover

Ken asks…

renter rights?

i have ask my land lord to fix my floor i live in a older trailer private owned i have writen him a letter still no fix the repairs also next door is my neighobr that rents from the same land lord came over to my house on sunday yelling and cussing my husband and i because my husaband had permmison from the land lord so the other renter came over here like a mad man. what are my rights i was basicly told if i dont like the rules then i can move i was told this after i paid my rent and my bills we have lived her for 5 years never been late on rent what to do? can he legally do this the land lord?

Land Lover answers:

What did your lease say about repairs?

The lease that we give our tennants states that all repairs and renovations are their responsibility. We cover nothing.

Sharon asks…

What renter rights if any do we have here in California?

Moved in with son and daughter in law who rent the home we live in 6months in we find out the house is in forclosure and going up for auction in a few weeks. Does anyone know if we have any renter rights or how long do we have till we will have to move? We live in California.

Land Lover answers:

You can stay until house is foreclosed on but someone will put a note on your door. You are legally obligated to pay rent to the current owner. If some poor guy is losing his house, what do you think will happen when the bank takes it over.

Sandy asks…

Are there any renter rights for paying shared utilities in multi-dwelling apartment in PA?

Living in Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, there is a muti-dwelling apartment but tenant #1 as part of the lease is expected to pay the electricity bill even though tenant #2 is consuming the utility. Are there any renter's rights or protections in Pennsylvania for this scenario?

Land Lover answers:

Shared utilities are not really regulated in most states. You are pretty much bound to whatever it states in your lease.

If it is not specified in your lease then go talk to your landlord. They can write an addendum to address this issue and have both tenants sign it.

Tenant #2 should be paying tenant #1 a portion of the rent or the utilities need to be paid by the owner and both tenants rents would be raised to include utilities.

Daniel asks…

Renter Rights?

My apartment management just issued to all tenants that we all have to start using shades only in our windows and if we were to have curtains it has to be white only.
Is there a state statute against what they can say what we are allowed to have up in our own apartment.
I am looking for any laws, statutes, clauses and/or state compliance that prohibit them for enforcing a cosmetic, vanity compliance toward their own tenants.
I live in Wisconsin, and would like to know if anyone knows what are the legal standing on this ludicrous compliance stands.
If possible provide links if could.

Land Lover answers:

The Owner of the building wants a uniformed look to the building. It will make the property look better for curb appeal.
In turn you are then living in a property that the owner is at least taking pride in his ownership.
Look around and see if some have pink. Foil up on the window. ETC. It is a unsightly looking building if this is what is happening.
You can fight it all you want. But the owner of the building has the right to have the look of his building the way he wants it.
However there are tenant rights for each state.
And no it is not a conspiracy.
California is a tenant state. For those that think different.

Maria asks…

Renter rights???

So I rent an apartment in California and my landlord shows up without notice all the time. She cirlces the block numerous times a day and will snoop in our windows if we don't answer the door. I was under the impression that landlords legally had to give you notice if they were going to be on the property, especially if it is a backyard that is gate controlled and you need a key to open. Is that back yard not part of what we pay rent for? Can someone please help me!!!!

Land Lover answers:

You need to hire a lawyer.

Here's the skinny on your LL/Tenant issue.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO QUIET USE AND ENJOYMENT OF YOUR RENTAL PROPERTY.

That means the landlord has no right to continue to intrude on your solitude and privacy and snoop on you at all hours of the day and night 24/7. You are dealing with a deeply disturbed person.

California Civil Code Provides:

1940.2. (a) It is unlawful for a landlord to do any of the
following for the purpose of influencing a tenant to vacate a
dwelling:
(1) Engage in conduct that violates subdivision (a) of Section 484 of the Penal Code.

(2) Engage in conduct that violates Section 518 of the Penal Code.

+++++>>>>> (3) Use, or threaten to use, force, willful threats, or menacing conduct constituting a course of conduct that interferes with the tenant's quiet enjoyment of the premises in violation of Section 1927 that would create an apprehension of harm in a reasonable person. Nothing in this paragraph requires a tenant to be actually or constructively evicted in order to obtain relief.

Happy hunting.