Each state has basic rights for tenants, such as the right to receive notice before landlord entry and the right to rent disclosure. To protect yourself as a tenant, it’s imperative to know the rights you are entitled to in your state. In addition to rights at the state level, there are freedoms protected by the federal government upheld in the Fair Housing Act. This act prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.
Tenant rights can vary a great deal from one state to another – some states favor tenants, and some states favor landlords. No matter which state you live in, you should have the right to a safe and habitable home. Moreover, no landlord can legally retaliate against you. Why is it so important to know your rights? Well, you could keep a questionable landlord from illegally keeping a deposit when he or she doesn’t have valid grounds to keep it. Not only that, but tenant rights keep you from facing an unfair eviction or incurring charges that go against the rules in your state. Before you sign a lease, make sure the language does not violate tenant rights.
https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2009/Title35/Chapter9A/Chapter9A.html
https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/IAQ/assets/adecentplacetolivebrochure.pdf
http://law.alaska.gov/department/civil/consumer/landlord-tenant.html
https://www.hud.gov/states/alaska/renting/tenantrights
https://housing.az.gov/general-public/landlord-and-tenant-act
https://statelaws.findlaw.com/arkansas-law/arkansas-tenant-rights-laws.html
https://www.hud.gov/states/california/renting/tenantrights
https://www.hcd.ca.gov/manufactured-mobile-home/mobile-home-ombudsman/docs/tenant-landlord.pdf
https://www.hud.gov/states/colorado/renting/tenantrights
https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/law/landlord.htm
https://ctlawhelp.org/en/tenants-renters-rights-laws
https://delcode.delaware.gov/title25/c053/index.shtml
http://www.declasi.org/poverty-law-program/tenants-rights/
https://www.floridabar.org/public/consumer/tip014
https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Landlord-Tenant-Law-in-Florida
https://www.hud.gov/states/georgia/renting/tenantrights
https://cca.hawaii.gov/hfic/files/2013/03/landlord-tenant-handbook.pdf
https://www.hud.gov/states/hawaii/renting/tenantrights
https://www.ag.idaho.gov/content/uploads/2018/04/LandlordTenant.pdf
https://www.hud.gov/states/idaho/renting/tenantrights
https://www.isba.org/public/guide/landlordtenant
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2201&ChapterID=62
https://www.in.gov/ihcda/4077.htm
https://www.hud.gov/states/indiana/renting/tenantrights
https://www.iowalegalaid.org/resource/summary-of-iowa-landlord-and-tenant-law
https://www.hud.gov/states/iowa/renting/tenantrights
https://www.kansaslegalservices.org/node/1934/tenant-issues-and-rights-kansas-renters
https://www.hud.gov/states/kansas/renting/tenantrights
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/chapter.aspx?id=39159
https://www.hud.gov/states/kentucky/renting/tenantrights
https://www.la-legal.com/tenant-rights-in-louisiana/
https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/14/title14ch709sec0.html
https://www.hud.gov/states/maine/renting/tenantrights
https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/CPD/landlords.aspx
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-landlord-and-tenant
https://www.masslegalhelp.org/legal-tactics
https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359-82915_82919_82241---,00.html
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https://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/handbooks/lt/default.asp
https://www.mncourts.gov/Help-topics/Landlord-and-Tenant-Issues.aspx
https://www.mslegalservices.org/resource/landlord-tenant-law-in-mississippi
https://statelaws.findlaw.com/mississippi-law/mississippi-tenant-rights-laws.html
https://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/publications/landlord-tenantlaw.pdf
https://www.hud.gov/states/missouri/renting/tenantrights
https://dojmt.gov/consumer/tenants-and-landlords/
https://www.hud.gov/states/montana/renting/tenantrights
https://nrec.nebraska.gov/legal/landlordacttoc.html
https://law.unl.edu/node/1161/
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-118a.html
https://www.hud.gov/states/nevada/renting/tenantrights
https://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/sourcebook/renting.htm
https://www.hud.gov/states/new_hampshire/renting/tenantrights
https://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/codes/offices/landlord_tenant_information.html
https://www.lsnjlaw.org/publications/pages/manuals/tenantsrights.pdf
https://www.nmhealth.org/publication/view/guide/278/
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/overview-landlord-tenant-laws-new-mexico.html
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/tenants-rights-and-responsibilities.page
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https://www.lawhelpnc.org/issues/housing/renting
https://www.hud.gov/states/north_carolina/renting/tenantrights
https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/tenant-rights
https://www.hud.gov/states/north_dakota/renting/tenantrights
https://codes.ohio.gov/orc/5321
https://www.okbar.org/freelegalinfo/tenant/
https://oklaw.org/resource/landlord-tenant-rights-and-duties
https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/chapter/90
https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/housing-assistance/Pages/Landlord-tenant-resources.aspx
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/PDF/1951/0/0020..PDF
https://www.hud.gov/states/pennsylvania/renting/tenantrights
https://www.rils.org/documents/tenant_rights.pdf
https://www.hud.gov/states/rhode_island/renting/tenantrights
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t27c040.php
https://www.scbar.org/public/get-legal-help/common-legal-topics/rights-and-duties-of-landlords/
https://consumer.sd.gov/fastfacts/landlordtenant.aspx
https://www.hud.gov/states/south_dakota/renting/tenantrights
https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/environmental/healthy-homes/hh/renters.html
https://www.hud.gov/states/tennessee/renting/tenantrights
https://guides.sll.texas.gov/landlord-tenant-law
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/home-real-estate-and-travel/renters-rights
https://www.hud.gov/states/utah/renting/tenantrights
https://www.uaahq.org/tenants-resources.html
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https://vtlawhelp.org/landlord-tenant-renter
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https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodepopularnames/virginia-residential-landlord-and-tenant-act/
https://www.atg.wa.gov/tenant-rights
https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18
http://ago.wv.gov/consumerprotection/Documents/Renters%27%20Rights%20Brochure.pdf
http://www.wvlegislature.gov/WVCODE/Code.cfm?chap=37&art=6
https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Publications/LandlordTenantGuide.aspx
http://wilawlibrary.gov/topics/landlord.php
https://www.hud.gov/states/wyoming/renting/tenantrights
http://www.uwyo.edu/studentatty/legal-information-by-topic/landlord-tenant-infomation.pdf
Every time you rent an apartment or house the landlord will require you to take out a renters insurance policy. Renters insurance is relatively affordable– most policies cost less than $20 per month, depending on where you live. Nonetheless, the cost of renters insurance can still add up if you’re not careful. There are a few ways you can save money on renters insurance. First, you could bundle it with your car insurance – many large insurance carriers offer this option. If you want to save even more money, you could install an in-home security system or try to clean up your credit score. Alternatively, you could just opt for a high-deductible policy.
Even though it doesn’t seem like a major expense, renters insurance is important. Renters insurance covers the costs arising from the theft of your personal property, water damage, natural disasters, and injuries. Without renters insurance, you could be legally responsible to pay back thousands of dollars in damages. If someone burglarized your home and took all your valuables, you would be out the money. Although it’s not legally required in most places, living in a rented property without renters insurance is like driving a car without insurance – you’re putting yourself and your assets at risk.
