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Know Your Rights as a Renter

Safeguard Your Living Situation

Renting a house or an apartment can help individuals who want to live independently and be more fully included in their communities make this goal a reality. While renting can be a wonderful opportunity, it can also be confusing. As a renter, you must understand your rights and know where to go for help if you feel those rights have been violated.

As a renter, you have the right to live in a clean and safe home. If the conditions in your home are unsafe, you should let your landlord know so they can fix the problem. Renters also have the right to be treated fairly. A landlord cannot treat you differently or refuse to rent to you because of your race, ethnicity, or disability. You have the right to complain and not worry that your landlord will be angry or treat you badly because you made a complaint.

Renters also have the right to their privacy. Landlords must give you a 24-hour (1 day) notice before entering your home, such as if they wish to make repairs, showing the home to prospective renters or buyers, or allowing code inspectors to visit.

Eviction occurs when a landlord makes a renter leave their apartment or house. Landlords can only evict renters for good reasons, like not paying or following the lease. If a landlord wants to evict a renter, they must go to court and give the renter notice.

Knowing your rights as a renter can help make renting less confusing. For more information on your rights, click here.

Here are more resources if you feel your rights have been violated: