Tag Archives: landlord tenant law

Whether or not your landlord can raise your rent depends on a number of variables, including the terms of your agreement and where you live. But here are some general guidelines.   A Long-Term Lease Protects You A lease is a binding legal contract that should specify the length of the lease and the monthly rent. In general, a landlord cannot increase the rent until the lease runs out. Some leases, however, allow the landlord to raise the rent for …

Tenants often think about making improvements to the property they are renting, especially if they like the location and the landlord, and plan to stay for a long time. This article deals with tenant improvements above and beyond the landlord’s requirement to keep a unit safely habitable. Don’t do anything to improve your rental property until you’ve read your lease or rental contract and have discussed the improvements with your landlord. Your lease or rental agreement probably contains a detailed …

Tenants’ Rights for Victims of Natural Disasters In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, countless people were displaced from their homes. While homeowners confront destroyed houses and navigate insurance woes, renters have their own set of problems. Disputes between landlords and tenants are one of the more common legal problems to arise in the wake of a major storm. Find Out More…   Cohabitation Agreements Protect Relationships More and more couples are living together without being married. For those who do, …

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy’s wreckage last week, untold thousands of people are still displaced in New York, New Jersey and neighboring states. While homeowners confront destroyed houses and navigate insurance woes, renters have their own set of problems. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg estimated that 10,000 people in the city have no hope of returning to their homes anytime soon, due to extensive damage from wind, fire and flood. Structural damage, soggy carpets, leaks, mold growth and more …

Most of us grew up thinking that bedbugs were make-believe, like the monster under the bed. Unfortunately, they are not. With the prohibition of the pesticide DDT and the increase in global travel, bedbugs have returned in force to infest dwellings and public spaces throughout the United States. Treatment for bedbugs can be expensive. Laws regarding the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in a bedbug situation vary greatly. A few states and many cities have addressed the issue. …