Tenants
Responsibilities
It
is very important for all parties to know and understand their responsibilities.
Landlords who are ignorant of their responsibilities often end up
alienating good tenants, drawing the unwanted attention of local housing
inspectors, and losing money. Tenants, who are unaware of these responsibilities,
may unwittingly live in substandard conditions, do the landlord's
job for them, and fail to seek legitimate means of recourse.
Tenants should take an active part in determining that the rental
they are considering is in compliance with all municipal codes and
regulations in their states. To find out more about its requirements,
contact the municipality in which you are considering residing. Apartment
Quester strongly encourages all tenants to rent only those spaces
that are in full compliance with municipality codes and regulations.
Tenants should always assess security measures (deadbolts, keyed window
locks, outside lights) and fire safety precautions (fire extinguishers,
smoke detectors, and sprinkler systems) before signing a lease.
Remember that if you do not know what your responsibilities are, you
may be breaking your lease or making it easier for the landlord to
evict you under the Just Cause for Eviction Act.
Care of the Property
You are responsible for any damage done to the property by you, your
children, guests, or pets if it is more than "normal wear and
tear". The landlord may try to evict you for destroying the property.
*Safety note: All fire escapes, stairways and common hallways must
be kept free of any personal belongings.
Insurance
Renters are accountable for insuring their own personal property against
loss or damage and obtaining liability coverage. Anyone who rents,
including students, should consider looking into renters insurance
because losses from theft, fire, and other misfortunes are not usually
covered by the owner's insurance policy. A common misconception is
that the landlord is required to take care of any losses suffered
by the renter. In actuality, the landlord usually has a policy to
insure the building against damage, but not your personal belongings.
Suppose a storm punches a hole in your ceiling causing minor water
damage. Your landlord's insurance covers the ceiling and water damage
to the carpet, however the damage to your computer is your loss.
Common damages covered:
Fire
Lightning
Theft
Smoke
Vandalism
Windstorm or hail
Many renters insurance policies can also cover liability for guests
injured in your residence. This means that if a guest in your residence
slips and falls, you could be covered for any medical bills up to
your liability limit. If the guest decides to sue you, you are covered
for any damages they may receive in court and your legal expenses
up to your policy's limit. Some students' personal items may be covered
under their guardian's homeowner's insurance or it is possible that
they can be added for a small fee. If a student's personal belongings
brought on campus are not covered under the homeowner's or tenants'
policy, personal property insurance should be purchased. Many insurance
companies offer renters insurance specifically for students.
Lease
You are responsible for reading the lease before signing it and for
following the rules and regulations in the lease, unless they are
illegal or unreasonable.
Notice of Repairs
You are responsible for giving the landlord notice of any repairs
that are needed to the property. This is particularly true where the
defect (such as a water leak) will cause additional damage unless
it is promptly repaired.
Note: Landlords will sometimes falsely claim that you did not give
the landlord prompt notice of the need to repair and claim that this
resulted in additional damage. If the landlord then sues you and wins,
you will be responsible for the cost of the additional repairs and
may be evicted. You also stand to lose part of your security deposit.
All notices should therefore be in writing. Remember to keep a copy
as proof. Send letters by certified mail, return deposit requested.
Orderly Conduct
You must not interfere with the rights of other tenants. This means
that you must control your family members, guests, and pets. Under
the Just Cause for Eviction Act, a landlord can ask the court to evict
you for being disorderly, making too much noise, and disturbing other
tenants (but only after you have ignored a written notice from the
landlord telling you to stop).
Paying the Rent
You are responsible for paying the rent on time and may be evicted
if you regularly pay rent late. But you have a right to withhold your
rent when the landlord may try to evict you for destroying the property.
