Tenants have to follow their lease agreements when living in apartments. Many lease agreements have very basic and universal terms. But, some landlords may be particular and include unique terms in a lease. To ensure that a lease agreement is being followed, it may be...
landlord-tenant disputes
2 commons reasons for problems between landlords and tenants
While most landlord-tenant arrangements work well, without any major issues on either end, sometimes problems can occur. Understanding the likely causes of problems allows both parties to act to reduce the chance it happens to them. Here are two to consider: 1. People...
Immigration status, discrimination and rental units
Finding housing in New York can be a challenge. For those who are undocumented and for minorities, the challenge can be even greater. New York law has specific laws that explicitly forbid discrimination on things like race, nationality, immigration status and similar...
Has your tenant damaged your property?
You’ve been in the real estate business for some time now and you rent out properties. For the most part, this has gone smoothly and you receive a profit while the tenant has somewhere nice to live for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, upon a recent inspection, one...
When can landlords enter a tenant’s property?
Some landlords believe that they can enter a property at any time because they are technically the owner of that real estate. On the other hand, some tenants believe that they always have a right to privacy and that a landlord can never come into the home or apartment...
Can a landlord prohibit tenants from having overnight guests?
Maybe you recently purchased a property and intend to rent it out to others, and you want to make sure that your lease adequately protects your interests. Perhaps you are a tenant who just started a romantic relationship and suddenly started getting fee invoices from...
How should landlords deal with disabled tenants and applicants?
As a landlord, the term disabled tenant may automatically cause you to worry about the safety of tenants with disabilities. What if they fall while residing on your property? What if they try to sue you for the accident? Disabled individuals have the right to fair...
Can I evict a tenant for an unauthorized pet?
Landlords have several legitimate reasons why they include pet policies on their rental contracts. A good pet policy protects the rental property, complies with insurance regulations and ensures that everyone is safe. Some landlords opt to include a “no pet” clause in...
Is it fair to ban criminal background checks by landlords?
The “Fair Chance for Housing Act” is slowly moving forward through the New York City Council’s review, despite fierce opposition from landlords – and maybe some tenants. The proposed law had a lot of support from council members and the city’s mayor, but not everybody...
Reasons a landlord can keep a security deposit
Landlords often take security deposits when someone signs a new lease. You’ve probably heard people complain that landlords will try to keep these for reasons that are not valid. And, while that certainly does happen in some situations, it’s also important to note...