You should be informed of the important local, state, and federal laws that affect your rights and obligations as a renter. You will be a better and more knowledgeable tenant if you are aware of these laws. This can improve your experience and help you avoid future problems with your landlord. Here are a few of the most important laws to be aware of as a renter:
Warranty of Habitability
Despite having a distinct name in different states, implied warranty of habitability laws are state laws that ensure that your rental unit is livable. As a result, the rental home meets specific minimum requirements for matters like heat, water, and electricity in most states.
Choosing a Tenant
State and federal laws give landlords the right to choose their tenants. But the laws also state that a landlord’s decision must be based on creditworthiness, income, or past history. They can’t say no to rent to someone based on things like skin color, religion, sexual orientation, familial status, and disability.
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that prohibits landlords from discriminating against tenants based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, gender, national origin, and disability. This law was enacted in 1968 and allows renters who feel discriminated against because of one or more of these characteristics to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), regardless of the state they reside in.
Limiting the Number of Children
Under the Fair Housing Act, a landlord cannot refuse to rent to a tenant based on how many children the tenant has. The law also states that a landlord cannot restrict children from using outdoor or common areas.
Service Animals
Service animals qualify as a reasonable accommodation under federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, thus landlords cannot merely forbid them. Additionally, if you have a service animal, they cannot increase your rent or demand a pet free. On the other hand, landlords might demand that a service animal be vaccinated, licensed, and registered in accordance with all state and municipal laws.
Discriminatory Advertising
The federal Fair Housing Act, enforced by HUD, also forbids discrimination in rental property advertisements. Discriminatory advertising includes, for instance, putting up an advertisement stating that the landlord won’t rent to adults who are single, people who are a certain age, or people who use wheelchairs.
Security Deposits
There are laws regarding how a Carnegie property manager must handle your security deposit. In most cases, the law allows a landlord to collect and then hold your deposit and potentially use it to complete repairs if you neglect your duty while residing in the home and cause damage. There are federal limits set on how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit – which is also determined by state law.
Illegal Lockouts
While there is no one federal law that makes locking out a tenant illegal, laws in every state outline the legal eviction process that makes locking a tenant out of their rental house an illegal act. Eviction is a legal process that must be followed correctly, or the landlord risks having the court rule in the tenant’s favor.
If you’re looking for a Carnegie rental home and property manager who knows and will follow all applicable tenant-landlord laws, Real Property Management Keystone is who you can rely on. Browse our listings online to find your next rental home!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
