When you decide to rent out your first apartment, there are a lot of things to consider.
The relationship between a landlord and a tenant is governed by clear legal responsibilities, and most of the time these operate smoothly. But problems can arise when those responsibilities are either ignored or mishandled.
Knowing the most common reasons tenants sue landlords makes it a lot clearer where the legal boundaries are and why complying with the rules matters.
Personal Injury Caused by Landlord’s Negligence
When hazards are ignored or repairs are bungled, injuries can and do happen.
Examples of these problems include broken staircases, wonky railings, loose flooring, dodgy wiring, or bad DIY repairs. If any of these cause an injury, the landlord might find themselves liable. In these cases, the tenant may seek compensation with the help of a personal injury lawyer to recover medical costs, lost wages, and other damages.
Failing To Meet Basic Living Standards
Most states have an implied warranty of habitability, which means rental properties have to meet some basic living standards.
Problems like mould, pest infestations, broken plumbing, or dodgy electrical systems can all violate these requirements.
When landlords fail to sort out serious habitability issues after being told about them, tenants may have grounds to take them to court
Unlawful Entry and Privacy Violations
Tenants have a right to privacy, and landlords are generally only allowed to enter a rental unit with advance notice, except in emergencies. If landlords repeatedly enter without proper notice, harass, or conduct inspections without proper notice, they may be violating their tenants’ rights.
If these issues continue or cause significant disruption, tenants may be able to bring them to court. Courts usually take these privacy violations very seriously.
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Security Deposit Disputes
Security deposit issues are probably one of the most common landlord-tenant disputes. The law usually says landlords have to return a security deposit within a certain timeframe and provide an itemized list of deductions. If they withhold a deposit without justification or fail to return it on time, they can be hit with penalties.
Retaliation Against Tenants
Landlords may not retaliate against tenants for exercising their right to pursue legal action. Retaliation may include increasing the rent, reducing services, or threatening eviction after a tenant reports safety issues or requests repairs.
Wrongful Eviction and Discrimination
Evictions need to follow very strict legal procedures, and things like locking tenants out, turning off the utilities, and removing their belongings without getting a court order are against the law in a lot of places. Tenants who have been subjected to these actions may be able to sue for damages.
Discrimination against protected classes under federal or state fair housing laws can also lead to a lawsuit. Unequal treatment, refusing to rent to someone, or harassing a tenant may all create legal exposure for landlords.
Landlord-tenant laws are in place to protect both parties, but if these laws are broken, there can be serious consequences. For tenants, knowing when to take legal action helps protect their health, safety, and financial stability. For landlords, understanding these risks really drives home the importance of doing proper maintenance, keeping the lines of communication open, and following the law when it comes to rental management.
Top Photo by chris robert on Unsplash
