Landlord-Tenant Issues

You can use either term but generally for a female you would call them a landlady, however your lease will likely use the term "landlord," as it implies lady or man.

Generally, not. Unforeseeable criminal acts are not something your landlord is responsible for.

However, you might have a claim for reduction in rent if there are serious safety or security problems that the landlord is aware of and has failed to repair. For example, the front door of an apartment building should have a sturdy lock and should be self-closing, adequate lighting inside and out, and some method to prevent or deter unauthorized duplication of keys.

You could hire a security company to give you an assessment of your security needs (burglary, fire, gas, mechanical hazards, etc)

no. late fees are actually illegal. more to come.

You can, but you'll owe them for each month until they rent it.

It is the landlord's responsibility to ensure tenants' safety, as well as "reasonable enjoyment" of their rental unit. Therefore, if you feel you are in danger from other tenants, and your landlord will not remove those tenants, you have the right to move out. HOWEVER, be sure you give your landlord WRITTEN notice stating your reasons for moving, and backing those reasons up with documentation! In fact, I would suggest you contact a lawyer specializing in landlord/tenant issues for further advice.

In the U.S., a federal act - the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act - requires banks on federally related mortgages to give a 90 day notice to quit. You can assume that the mortgage is federally related.

What you are asking is about portability of your voucher, which must be approved by your Housing Program Coordinator (HPC)'s Portability Officer at your Housing Authority. In this case there are two Housing Authorities involved, the Housing Authority in Florida, known as the initial Housing Authority, and the receiving Housing Authority in New York. Before you terminate the lease in Florida, you should first get your voucher ported to NY. When the NY Housing Authority receives your paperwork they will give you an appointment for a voucher there. Your voucher in Florida will still be good and you should not terminate anything there yet. When you find your New York home you need to have it inspected by the receiving Housing Authority and they will give you the okay to move there. You may have to pay your security deposit and the prorated amount of your rent (that is, what you are supposed to pay given the voucher, not the entire amount of the prorated rent). When you have everything set in New York, then you terminate the Florida matter. If you don't follow these instructions or whatever instructions are given to you by both Housing Authorities, you could lose your voucher and rent subsidy. So be very careful here!

You have the right to leave at the end of the lease, or, with a month-to-month tenancy, at the end of the next rental period, after giving proper notice.

The thing is, that murderer has to live somewhere.

It depends on Local Law first, your contract with the land lord and it also depends on whether or not the bill has been paid by you. This is an open question and until more information is provided, you will have to live with the lights off.

Yes.

Well, it does seem like an odd arrangement -- if he runs late getting finished, or doesn't finish it up, for instance, the renter would have nowhere to go. Common sense would say that this is not a good idea, even with a written contract, unless there is a real shortage of apartments in the area. It is legal to ask for 2 months rent. First and Last Month and quite possibly a Deposit. However, if the apartment building is not complete the landlord may be using potential tenants money to complete the construction. I wouldn't do it. Does not sound legit.

The reasons and process for canceling a lease, albeit any contract, would be spelled out in the contract. Absent any mention, it isn't a reason...and you'll likely find that there is a clause mentioning only certain things, like acts of God, natural disasters, etc.

A contract/lease can always be ended by mutual agreement. That's your best route. But that doesn't mean the other party won't want (and deserve) some type of compensation for doing so.

I can only answer this for Massachusetts, but I think it's the same in most or all states. MGL c.186 only allows a landlord to collect at the beginning of a tenancy: 1. first month rent; 2. last month rent; 3. security deposit; and 4. a key fee. Anything else is forbidden. Futhermore, a pet deposit is clearly meant to cover damage by a pet. That's a security deposit - it's the same thing. BTW, the deposit must then be handled like a security deposit, which is difficult. The penalty for mishandling it is three times the amount of the deposit.

Actually, in Texas the Constables can most certainly oversee such a task. It is at the landlords behest that this action is taken and when eviction is filed with the court and the rent is not paid up they can and will come in and change the locks. Let me clarify that: No-one can legally enter your appartment except as follows: * Your landlord can enter in an emergency (broken water line) and then only to fix it and leave * Your landlord can request an inspection. You can hold that off so it's mutually convenient -- you have about 48 hours max. * The police can enter your home if they have a warrant (in this case they don't). * They can enter your house in pursuit of a fleeing criminal * They can enter your house if they feel they have probably cause a crime is being committed, or someone is endangered. * There are some new laws on National Security. * If you've been successfully evicted, a warrant will be issued, the constables can enter and remove you (and your stuff) and lock the appartment. But if you're late on the rent? No -- they cannot and neither can your landlord. In order for the police (or more likely the constable or sherriff) to enter your house and lock you out, you have to have been legally evicted first. This procedure requires your landlord to appear in court (and you should be there too!). It takes about 33 days, if your landlord does everything right, and more if he doesn't. If you explain that you are a renter, and can prove it (receipts, rental agreement, lease, cancelled checks, whatever), the police will turn right around and not get invovled, which BTW is good policing. Removing your things from your house against your will and in absense of a legal, completed eviction, or entering your house against your will -- or locking you out -- is called a "creative eviction". If you handle yourself properly and with dignity and manners, you can actually sue the landlord, and receive a settlement (which is this instance is often free rent for a while, and a limit on his right to evict or raise rent for quite a while). The gentleman who responded above is correct, but you'll notice he states that this happens in the event of an eviction -- and not without.

No, normally you can spend the money. If a tenant terminates a lease early the landlord can keep the security deposit and sue the tenant for loss if the unit is not re-rented by the time the lease would have expired.

The current checks made for a sitting tenant depends on the agreement between the landlord and tenant. To know what yours is you would have to check the lease.

Absolutely. Many states have statutes that say exactly that the tenant must grant access.

Possibly, due to inflation and other needs.

if you read your rental agreement then there should be a spot that tells you how to break a rental agreement. if not then ask your landlord because i broke a rental agreement one time and i had to pay a fee of 200 dollars. but if you ask your landlord then he/she will tell you. its not hard

You certainly could. Many people would say that you should not. If you do, there is an administrative procedure within the housing authority to appeal the revocation. If that does work, you can appeal to a court.

Most likely. A security depsit is something that every state allows landlords to collect. The purpose of security deposits is to assure that a tenant pays rent on time and keeps the property in good condition. Half of the states place limitations on how much a security deposit can be. In addition, there are usually limitations on how a security deposit can be used by a landlord. Rent and water damages are the type fo thing that a security deposit is supposed to cover. You should look into how much damage there was as you may still be owed some money back. But the fact that you filed bankruptcy does not necessarily entitle you to your security deposit. It may be better to think of it as money already spent than a refund you are supposed to get back.

If the breach resulted in rent being owed, then yes, the landlord can use the deposit to pay that arrearage (and then sue for the rest).

You can only evict if their rent is behind or if they have violated any rules signed in your renters contract. If this includes a "no illegal drugs clause" you cannot evict unless they are convicted of possesion. If you evict and they are not charged or found innocent the tenant can turn around and sue. Wait for the DA to file charges and follow up on the result.

It depends on your state's particular landlord-tenant act. Some states have different landlord-tenant acts for mobile home parks, for example. The below link shows a list of all 50 states' landlord-tenant acts. The applicability of the act is usually found at or near the beginning of the act.

Most countries' tenancy law requires that there be a method of settling disputes. The information for such method should be detailed in the agreement. Contact them to make your claim and organise your case.

It is worth noting that if the boiler makes the building being leased unlivable, then the landlord is required to fix it; if however the boiler is not necessary to fulfilling the minimum requirements as established by law in that jurisdiction, they are not required to fix it.