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Agreement Regarding Tenant Improvements
to Rental Unit
Amendment to Lease or Rental Agreement
Moving out and getting your deposit back
Tenant's Notice of Intent to Move Out
Termination of Lease
Consent to Assignment of Lease
Demand for Return of Security Deposit
Every Tenant’s Legal Guide
By Attorney Janet Portman & Marcia Stewart, Nolo Press
Venue:
National - All States
Description:
The essential all-in-one book for anyone paying
rent!
Every Tenant's Legal Guide gives you the legal and practical
information you need to deal with your landlord and other tenants,
and protect your rights when things go wrong. Written in plain
English, it shows you how to:
inspect a place before you move in
negotiate a lease or rental agreement
put roommate relationships on a sound legal footing
understand key rules on rent increases and rent control
get needed repairs and maintenance
protect your privacy
fight illegal discrimination
break a lease with minimum financial liability
get your security deposit back
understand and prepare for eviction proceedings
The updated 6th edition of Every Tenant's Legal Guide
comes complete with tear-out forms, as well as charts that help
you figure out the latest laws of your state.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
1. Finding a Place to Rent
A. Setting Your Rental Priorities
B. How to Find an Apartment or House for Rent
C. Visiting Prospective Rentals
D. Checking Out the Neighbors
E. Rental Applications and Credit Reports
F. How Landlords Reject Tenants
G. Finder's Fees and Holding Deposits
H. Choosing Roommates
2. Leases and Rental Agreements
A. How Written Leases and Rental Agreements Differ
B. Oral Leases and Rental Agreements
C. Typical Provisions in Leases and Rental Agreements
D. Negotiating With the Landlord
E. Changing a Lease or Rental Agreement
F. Signing a Lease or Rental Agreement
G. Cosigners
3. Basic Rent Rules
A. How Much Can Your Landlord Charge?
B. Rent Control
C. When Is Your Rent Due?
D. Grace Periods for Late Rent
E. Where and How Rent Is Due
F. Late Charges and Discounts for Early Payments
G. Returned Check Charges
H. Negotiating Partial or Delayed Rent Payments
I. Rent Increases
J. Talking the Landlord Out of a Rent Increase
4. Security Deposits
A. Dollar Limits on Deposits
B. How Landlords May Increase Deposits
C. Last Month's Rent
D. Nonrefundable Deposits and Fees
E. Interest on Deposits and Separate Accounts
F. How the Deposit May Be Used
G. If Your Landlord Sells the Property
5. Discrimination
A. Kinds of Discrimination Prohibited by Federal Laws
B. Kinds of Discrimination Prohibited by State and Local
Law
C. How to Fight Back
6. Inspecting the Rental Unit and Moving In
A. How to Inspect the Rental Unit
B. Photographing the Rental Unit
C. How to Handle Problems
D. Clarifying Important Terms of the Tenancy
E. Organizing Your Rental Records
7. Roommates
A. Renting a Place With Others
B. Adding a New Roommate
C. Taking In a Roomer
8. Major Repairs and Maintenance
A. Your Basic Right to Livable Premises
B. State Laws and Local Housing Codes
C. Court-Imposed Rules
D. Your Repair and Maintenance Responsibilities
E. Making Tenants Responsible for Repairs
F. How to Get Action From Your Landlord
G. What to Do If the Landlord Won't Make Repairs
9. Minor Repairs and Maintenance
A. Minor Repairs: What Are They?
B. The Landlord's Responsibilities
C. Your Responsibilities
D. Getting the Landlord to Make Minor Repairs
E. Making Minor Repairs Yourself
10. Making Improvements and Alterations
A. Improvements That Become Part of the Property
B. Improving Your Rental Unit Without Enriching Your
Landlord
C. Cable TV Access
D. Satellite Dishes and Other Antennas
11. Your Right to Privacy
A. Entry by the Landlord
B. Entry by Others
C. Other Invasions of Privacy
D. What to Do About Invasions of Privacy
12. Injuries on the Premises
A. What to Do If You're Injured
B. Is the Landlord Liable?
C. If You're at Fault, Too
D. How Much Money You're Entitled To
13. Environmental Hazards
A. Asbestos
B. Lead
C. Radon
D. Carbon Monoxide
E. Mold
14. Crime on the Premises
A. The Landlord's Basic Duty to Keep You Safe
B. Problems With Other Tenants
C. Illegal Activity on the Property and Nearby
D. Getting Results From the Landlord
E. Protecting Yourself
15. How Tenancies End or Change
A. Changing Terms During Your Tenancy
B. How Month-to-Month Tenancies End
C. How Fixed-Term Leases End
D. Retaliation and Other Illegal Tenancy Terminations
E. How to Stay When Your Landlord Wants You Out
F. Getting Out of a Lease
G. Condominium Conversions
H. If the Landlord Sells or Goes Out of Business
16. Moving Out and Getting Your Security Deposit Back
A. Basic Rules for Returning Deposits
B. Deductions for Cleaning and Damage
C. Deductions for Unpaid Rent
D. Avoiding Fights Over Deposits
E. Security Deposits From Cotenants
F. How to Handle Deposit Disputes
G. Suing Your Landlord in Small Claims Court
H. If Your Deposit Doesn't Cover What You Owe
I. Your Abandoned Property
17. Termination Notices Based on Nonpayment of Rent and
Other Illegal Acts
A. Termination Notices
B. Late Rent
C. Other Violations of the Lease or Rental Agreement
D. Violations of Your Legal Responsibilities as a Tenant
E. Illegal Activity on the Premises
F. Negotiating With the Landlord
G. Getting Help From a Mediator
H. Refusing to Move Out
I. Cutting Your Losses and Moving
18. Evictions: An Overview
A. When to Fight-And When to Move
B. Illegal "Self-Help" Evictions
C. How Eviction Lawsuits Work
D. Stopping Eviction by Filing for Bankruptcy
19. Resolving Problems Without a Lawyer
A. How to Negotiate a Settlement
B. Using a Mediator
C. Suing in Small Claims Court
D. Tenants Working Together
20. Lawyers and Legal Research
A. How a Lawyer Can Help You
B. Finding a Good Lawyer
C. Fee Arrangements With Lawyers
D. Resolving Problems With Your Lawyer
E. Doing Your Own Legal Research
Appendix I: State Laws and Agencies
Appendix II: Tear-Out Forms
Index
Forms in This Book
Looking For and Finding a Rental
Rental Priorities Worksheet
Apartment-Finding Service Checklist
Rental Application
Consent to Background and Reference Check
Receipt and Holding Deposit Agreement
Moving In and Making Changes
Landlord-Tenant Checklist
Agreement Regarding Tenant Improvements to Rental Unit
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