If you are in dispute with your landlord, you may feel overwhelmed. After all, property owners may make you think that you have little right to a dispute.
According to U.S. News, many tenants do not always know their rights. To know when to fight, you need to know what the landlord owes you.
Livable and safe conditions
Your apartment or home must remain habitable. This means that you should have working plumbing, heat and electricity. If your furnace breaks down, for example, the landlord cannot procrastinate on repairs in the middle of winter.
The property also must meet housing codes. For example, there should be locks on all of the doors and windows. You should also have working smoke detectors in all bedrooms. Likewise, there must be exits available in a room in case of a fire. Now, if safety measures break while you inhabit the residence, you do have to make an effort to contact the landlord.
A problem arises when your property owner refuses to fix the problem or fails to act promptly.
Legal contracts
Your landlord may try to take advantage of the fact that you do not know the specific rights of tenants. You may look over the rules of your lease and believe that if you sign it, you have to follow each one. Rules that violate the law, however, are not valid.
For example, the landlord cannot make it the tenant’s obligation to ensure the property remains livable.
As a tenant, you should note all damages and all repairs that occur throughout the time you live on the premises.
