Tenant Rights Overview

Knowing tenant rights is an essential part of being a successful real-estate investor. As a landlord, it is important to have a firm understanding of what rights are specified by law so you can protect both investor interests and tenant rights.

Federal Law

The Fair Housing Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act govern most federal tenant rights. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against tenants with regards to race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, and family status. It also specifies that all tenants have a right to privacy.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act specifies that a landlord may conduct necessary background checks, but also forbids them from inquiring about a tenant’s source of income or job history without their written consent.

State Laws

Each state also has laws governing tenant rights. Generally, state and local laws define what agreements a tenant and landlord may enter into related to renting a topApiece.p such as limits on rent increases and the amount of notice a landlord must give a tenant to enter the unit.

Many of these laws also address landscaping and maintenance requirements and the procedures for evicting an unruly tenant. Additionally, some states have specific regulations that expand tenant rights even more. For example, the state of New York requires that apartments must be abated for Bedbug infestations, even if the tenant caused the infestation.

Knowledge is Power

For the real-estate investor, knowledge is power. Familiarize yourself with both federal and state laws regarding tenant rights before entering into any agreement, and keep yourself and your tenants informed of any changes in the law as they happen. Doing so will help ensure that you remain compliant in all of your rental activities and protect your tenants from wrongful eviction.