Home Services Rentals and Properties

Unforeseen costs are never fun surprises. When you rent an apartment, one of the benefits is often knowing that when something goes wrong you aren’t responsible for fixing it. Septic tanks are often forgotten since they reside underground, but they are there. 

Back when I lived in a different apartment (erm, warehouse), there was a short period of time when my water ran yellow. A call to my landlord fixed it. Afterward, I heard about the Flint water crisis and realized that contaminated water isn’t always an easy fix. Who should tenants blame when water is unfit to drink?

Involving a third party in any sort of deal can seem overwhelming and almost like it’s an unnecessary step. While some people prefer to have an agent, some would love to forgo that whole process. So, if you decide to forgo an agent, are you able to contact the seller of a house directly?

Selling or buying a new home can be exciting! It’s the start of a new chapter in your family’s life. However, it can be stressful, especially when it’s unclear which party is responsible for what. For example, when it comes to paying for a roof replacement, who is responsible to pay for it?

Relationships between landlords and tenants can often be complicated. Over time it is not uncommon for issues to arise and for disagreements to commence. When you and your landlord have a disagreement it is always a good idea to collect evidence. You should also keep track of all official correspondences. 

Being evicted for calling the police may sound unlikely, but unfortunately, it’s something that happens somewhat frequently. You might wonder whether these evictions can only happen if the police are called without a legitimate reason. In reality, it depends on your local laws and whether a nuisance ordinance is in place.

If you have rented or leased a residence long enough, then you have likely encountered the question of tenant versus landlord responsibility. When does the landlord have the obligation to fix and repair items? These questions can include items, such as doors and windows to appliances and household fixtures. Another common area in question is the bathroom, and does the landlord have to replace the bathtub?

In my years as a young adult, I have seen some situations where renters proved to be serious pigs. As someone who is kind of a neat freak, it makes sense to me that a landlord should require a professional cleaning once a year. I’ve even seen this in rental agreements. But, is asking you to get professional cleaning legal?

Selling a house is a big deal, literally and figuratively, which is why there are so many inspections and walkthroughs. It gives both parties the chance to check the house once more before the final sale. But can a seller back out of a final walkthrough?

Utilities are often quite expensive. Depending on where you live, certain bills can fluctuate from very small to astronomical in certain months. If you discover your landlord is using your utilities you will likely become upset. 

The Internet has become an essential tool in modern society. Wifi is available in even the most remote locations. Our phones are usually able to access the internet when wifi cannot. Landlords are now including the internet in rental agreements more than ever. It may confuse you then, if you find your landlord decides to turn off your internet one day.

Buying a new home is a big deal and an even bigger investment. If you are in the process of, or if you have recently purchased a new home, you are well aware. You were probably quite surprised at all that was involved too. Who would have guessed there were so many moving parts (pun intended) involved in buying a new home?

Living together is great until problems arise. You and your boyfriend are not getting along, and now he wants you to leave his house. You have nowhere else to go and can’t afford your own place. Can your boyfriend evict you from his house?

Moving in together is an exciting opportunity to take your relationship to the next level. You get to spend more time together and learn about each other. You certainly don’t want anything to cause unnecessary issues, especially not issues with your landlord. But you aren’t sure how to ask your landlord if your boyfriend can move in.

Most tenants are required to put the water bill in their name and pay it on a regular basis. But what if the water bill you received was astronomical, even though you haven’t been using more water than usual? Could it be because of a leak, and are you required to pay, even if it was beyond your control?

When you have a negative experience with a landlord you may be highly motivated and excited to find a new place. Perhaps you have even found a great new spot to live, but the new landlord is asking for a reference. Even if you were a good tenant, you may ask yourself, “Can a landlord give a bad reference?”

Dog doors don’t dramatically affect home value. However, a dog door can decrease home value if the house is already inexpensive and has other red flags. If someone can already afford an expensive home, they won’t likely mind the cost of covering up a dog door.

When a renter moves into a new apartment, they’ll probably have some expectations. For one, they’ll expect the place to be clean. But an unfortunate truth is that not all apartments are clean on move-in day, so if you move into a place that’s dirty when you arrive, you’ll probably have to clean on your own.

When you first rented your apartment, things went swimmingly. Then, the toilet started running. First it was a little dribble. It never seemed to stop. You called the landlord and nothing happened for a while. Then, your landlord got your water bill. It’s sky high. Does this sound like your scenario? It may be time to know who’s to blame.

House hunting very well could be one of the most exciting yet stressful times of your life. You’re making a huge decision, spending a lot of money, and in many cases, you’re taking a lot on faith. This sliver of uncertainty is why it’s so important to look for red flags when buying a home.

Water is one of those vital necessities that we all take for granted…until our access to it is cut off. With austerity measures in place throughout many parts of the country, it’s clear that water usage is starting to become a hot button issue. Landlords often pay for water, so are they allowed to tell you that you need to use less?

Problems with your apartment can be a headache when you are renting. There are often several steps and phone calls you need to make to get simple repairs taken care of. You may even find yourself in a situation where your landlord does not respond or refuses to fix things in your rental unit. It is important to know your rights as a tenant so you can address your concerns effectively.

Is there anything worse than discovering cockroaches in the property you’ve just moved into? If this is the situation you’re currently experiencing, you may be wondering what your best course of action is. You’re probably also curious about whether your landlord was obligated to tell you about the roaches before you signed the lease.

Laws, traditions, and common sense act as the guideposts that dictate and clarify many areas of the tenant-landlord relationship. Unfortunately, however, many areas of the tenant-landlord relationship aren’t so clearly defined.

Who wants to live in a filthy house with dirty floors? Most people don’t. But who’s responsibility is it to clean the carpets? Better yet, can landlords charge for carpet cleaning in a home that belongs to them? The answer may surprise you.

When you’re looking for a new home, you might come across a place you love that is part of a Homeowner Association (HOA). Maybe it features impressive amenities, like a fitness center or a pool. You know you can afford the mortgage, but don’t forget, if you buy the property, you have to pay HOA fees, too.

Apartment living can be extraordinary! Sometimes, it comes with many amenities, including a gym, pool, cabana, movie theater, and many more activities you can enjoy for the cost of your rent. However, because you are renting from someone else, you might have some concerns about the landlord and when they’re allowed to enter your residence. Can they show up without notice?

The other night, a friend of mine came back to his apartment from a night out, only to see that the toilet had flooded. There was brown stuff everywhere, and he was horrified. I mean, most of us would be, right? He called up his landlord and asked who was responsible for this. The answer might surprise you.

A major plumbing issue can come out of nowhere and completely derail your day. It’s often bad enough that the issue even exists. If you are renting your apartment and a plumbing issue happens, you may have an even larger headache. You might be confused about what you are supposed to do when you are not the owner. Some might even wonder who exactly is responsible for the plumbing repairs in your rental?

In the tenant-landlord relationship, each party has certain obligations. Aside from the obvious expectations, many other questions may arise. These questions can concern everything from who is responsible for what repairs to what fixtures and items tenants should expect landlords to provide. Is the landlord required to provide blinds is a common inquiry from many tenants and first-time renters.

You come home after a hard day only to find some strange device hanging on your door. After a few minutes, you realize that it’s a lock box. Can your landlord put a lock box on your door for showings?

It is growing harder to find places to smoke as it becomes less socially acceptable. It is common for landlords to prohibit smoking in a rental unit. In fact, many new apartment buildings are completely smoke-free. 

The smell of raw sewage is nasty. Plus, the fumes can be toxic for you and your family to breathe. But who’s responsible for fixing it, and what happens if you ignore the problem? Here’s what you need to know.

Your landlord should make every effort to provide you with a clean and safe home. However, some of the responsibility is yours. So, do you get charged for damaging the property? And how much can a landlord charge for a hole in the wall?

You might get excited when you see the words “heat included” on a rental sign. Heat and air conditioning can be some of the highest utility expenses when renting a home. Your excitement may change to confusion or anger when you move in and see that the thermostat is locked by the landlord. 

Having someone spy on you is not only creepy, but it also interferes with the quiet enjoyment of your home. Spying is an invasion of your privacy, and you do have rights, even if that person happens to be your landlord.

Having a washer and drier in your rental unit can be a real game changer. When you are busy or have a large family, taking your clothes to the laundromat can feel like a full-time job. It may be very shocking and frustrating when your landlord asks you to remove your washer and drier or face eviction. In addition to the shock, you may wonder if your landlord could evict you for having a washing machine in the first place.

The internet is a wealth of knowledge. It is not uncommon to find yourself going down a blackhole of internet searching. There is no secret that online privacy is often a thing of the past. Spyware and web browsers often hold on to information without you even knowing. 

Garbage is a part of life. Even the most environmentally-conscious individuals produce garbage! It’s how one disposes of their garbage that’s important.

Between landlords and tenants, who needs to complete maintenance and cleaning tasks is a bit of a gray area. In general, tenants are responsible for cleaning up after themselves and keeping up with minor maintenance tasks. But is dryer vent cleaning something they need to take care of, or is that the landlord’s responsibility?

During the 1970s, asbestos was banned due to the serious health risks of inhaling the fibers. Older homes and buildings may still have asbestos, and the material needs to be removed. If you find out that your rental unit has asbestos, you may be wondering if you can sue your landlord for asbestos exposure.

Home inspections are serious business which makes it such an important event for people to attend. However, there are only a few parties who are expected to show. That being said, should the seller attend the home inspection?

Nobody wants roaches in their home. But getting rid of them can be a challenge. So, who’s responsible for a roach infestation? And can you sue your landlord if they don’t fix the problem? Here’s what you need to know.

No one loves to pay rent. Often many of life’s stresses stem from a monthly rent payment. When you gather the money and finally get the payment to your landlord out on time you may feel a rush of relief. That relief may be short-lived, however, once you see that your landlord has refused to accept your rent payment.

Your home is your sanctuary. If you have a yard then its natural beauty may be the pinnacle of your sanctuary. When you see strangers on your lawn this may cause alarm and confusion.  If your landlord comes into your yard without notice, you may feel similar feelings. Worse, you might even feel like you are being spied on by your landlord. You may also wonder if your landlord has the right to just show up on your property without your permission.

Imagine this: You’ve just found a beautiful, leasable apartment. You reach out to the property manager or landlord to see if it’s still available, and you find out that it is. You apply, you wait, and eventually you hear back from the landlord, who pleasantly tells you they’d be delighted to have you as their tenant.

How long a landlord has to fix a mold problem depends on a variety of factors. When dealing with mold, many variables affect how it is dealt with. The time allowed for a landlord to fix mold issues is largely dependent on where the property is located and how severe the mold problem is.

Painting your apartment can instantly freshen the space. But you have to be careful not to break your rental lease. In some cases, a landlord will let you paint. In other cases, they won’t. So, can you paint apartment walls or not?

Staying on top of your rent is an important and often difficult responsibility. Being an adult can be hard and expensive. It will come as quite a frustrating shock then, if your landlord reaches out saying you have not paid your rent but you see the rent check has been cashed.

Freezers are useful appliances that have been around for a long time, and you can find freezers in most homes and a lot of businesses. One can use a freezer to preserve leftovers and keep perishable foods frozen, and some freezers are so small that they can be integrated into refrigerators.

When you start a family there is a lot to be excited about. At the same time, there is a lot you may be scared of. When you start a home with your family you do your best to remove all the hazards within the dwelling. Sometimes, however, these hazards are hidden.

Utility bills are a fact of life for most adults. They vary in price and frequency but it can sometimes feel like bills roll in nonstop. It may come as a shock then, when your landlord does not send you any utility bills. 

If a tree falls in your apartment and only renters hear it, does it even make a sound? Well, if you’re like most renters, you will be one of the first to hear the unmistakable crash of a fallen tree. That loud bang is often accompanied by building breakage, damage to cars, and more.

Coming home to find a notice on your door that you have 30 or 60 days to vacate is terrifying. The situation is even worse when you find out that your landlord is selling the property. So many questions go through your mind, and you suddenly feel like you’re about to be homeless. Can a landlord really break a lease to sell the property?

You know that buying a home is likely the biggest purchase you’ll make in your lifetime. But the cost extends far beyond the purchase price of your new house. Before you jump into home ownership, understand the hidden costs to make sure you’re not biting off more than you can chew.

When you pay your landlord rent every month you probably don’t think about where that money goes. You may assume your landlord owns the home and the rent is just income. Maybe you think that your rent is what pays the mortgage. Either way it surely must come as a shock when you find out that your landlord has stopped paying the mortgage on the property where you pay rent. 

What is a landlord required to provide? What is the responsibility of the tenant to provide? These are common questions within the scope of the tenant-landlord relationship. These questions cover items like appliances, carpeting, and trash receptacles, among others. Then, there is the question of the windows, and questions such as does a landlord have to provide window coverings?

True story: I have a bedroom that has been slightly marked up. I tried to wash it, and the paint literally wiped off on my cloth. It happens. This led me to realize that I needed to get a touch-up on my wall’s paint job. To a point, I was scared that I’d have to cover the charge for the paint. Did you ever feel like you’re stuck in my shoes?

It can be challenging to figure out what rights landlords and tenants have when it comes to spare keys. For some renters, it can be disconcerting to think that their landlord could potentially enter their home at any time. So is it legal and acceptable for a landlord to have a spare key to their rental property?

It is quite exciting when you and your partner decide to take your relationship to the next level and move in with each other. When two people in a relationship decide to move in together there are many logistics to cover. The most important thing to consider, perhaps, is where you two will live.