Floor Water Damage Caused By Hurricane The most common sources of floor water damage for which homeowner and secondary insurance may cover normally arises from such things as broken pipes, sump-pump and water heater failures. However, floor water damage including structural damage that is caused by hurricanes and other forms of natural disasters (called “Acts Read more…
How Much Rent Can A Landlord Charge?
Legally, as much as he likes. It’s a free country, it’s his property, and he doesn’t have to rent it out at all if he doesn’t want to. Practically, there are limits. If he asks for more than the market permits, no one will rent from him. They will just find another similar place at Read more…
Tenant Rights – Explained
Fighting Eviction – Leases Learn about leases and month-to-month rental agreements. Learn if you can be kicked out in the middle of a lease and how to fight eviction. Learn what happens if you decide to move in the middle of your lease and what happens if your lease runs out but you don’t want Read more…
Noise Law – Legal Nuisance
Noise Trouble? Under state law tenants have the right to the “quiet enjoyment of one’s property” This includes being free from intrusive outside noise caused by neighbors, maintenance and construction sites. Can I Legally Stop My Neighbor From Making Too Much Noise? Yes you can. While courts have the judicial authority to enjoin and stop noisy neighbors, most courts require Read more…
Landlord Legal Duty To Renters
Under real property law governing landlords and tenants, landlords in most states have an affirmative legal duty to provide their tenants with the quite enjoyment of their rented premises. This includes the right of the tenant to privacy and the right to have ones premises in good and safe working order and free from dangerous Read more…
Zoning And Land Use Laws
ZONING LAWS AND LAND USE DISPUTES Property zoning and land use municipal ordinances including city and township codes detail the legal rights and obligations of landowners with respect to their individual ownership and use of real property in commercial and mixed residential areas. The purpose of zoning is to distinguish uses that are considered functionally Read more…
Landlord Refuses To Rent To Tenant – Discrimination
TENANT DESCRIMINATION “It’s my property, so I can rent to whomever I like.” This attitude may be understandable, but landlords must realize that today there are legal limits on the landlord’s right to choose the tenant. Even if a landlord’s “people preferences” are unreasonable, strict, or quirky, the landlord may not, under the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S. Code Read more…
How Often May Your Landlord Raise The Rent?
How often a landlord may raise the rent depends. If you have a lease for a fixed term (such as 6 months or a year), then the landlord may not raise the rent during that year (unless the lease says otherwise, which they rarely do). If you have a month-to-month rental agreement (oral or written), Read more…
Lease Verse Month-to-Month Agreements
Whether a lease or a month-to-month rental agreement is better depends on the situation. A lease for a fixed term (such as 6 months or a year) locks both parties in for that period of time. The landlord may not evict (unless the tenant misbehaves by failing to pay the rent, wrecking the place, etc.) Read more…
Moving In The Middle Of A Lease – Breaking Your Lease
Breaking Your Lease Normally, you cannot move out in the middle of a lease. You signed it, so you are bound by it, just as the landlord is. You cannot simply “break” a lease. There are exceptions however, such as when the landlord has breached the lease. The tenant may break the lease if the Read more…