As a tenant, you are provided with certain rights against unlawful landlord practices. It is important to know these rights to establish a good business relationship with your landlord.

1. The right against unlawful entry made by the landlord or the owner. A landlord or an owner can only enter your apartment

to do repairs and inspection or show prospective buyers or renters. A landlord or owner may also enter the unit to do an inspection within the last thirty days of the term of tenancy to appraise any cost of repairs to be deducted from the security deposit. The landlord should consider a convenient time for the tenant

to do the visit.

2. The tenant’s right against retaliation. A landlord has not right to terminate the tenancy or increase the rent without reason. If he or she tries to terminate the tenancy or increase the rent within six months after you have contacted the Board of Health or exercise your legal rights, this act of the landlord will be considered as against you and he will be asked to prove that your tenancy was charged for reasons than exercising your rights as a tenant.

3. You are entitled to a habitable and safe environment throughout the tenancy term. The landlord should be able to provide you with water, heat, and kitchen and ensure that the unit is free from rodents and cockroaches.

4. You are entitled to withhold rent. This happens in the event that the landlord fails to provide a clean and safe living condition for you. You can withhold a portion of the rent from the date the landlord receives the notice of breach. The rent withheld is useful to force repairs. However, this is a delicate issue and you should seek the advice of your attorney when you withhold rent.

5. You have the right to do repairs and deduct the expenses from your rent. This amount can be deducted up to four months of your rent as long as you were able to get a certification from the Local Board of Health that the present condition of the apartment endangers your safety and health and the landlord has received a notice from the inspecting agency and is given five days to start with the repairs and accomplish it in fourteen days.

6.  Right against shutoff or removal. The landlord cannot do a removal or shutoff of utilities except when doing repairs and in emergency cases. If the landlord’s account is shutoff for non-payment, you should be sent a thirty days notice before the scheduled termination. You may be asked to pay a part of the overdue bill and deduct it from the rent.

7. Your right from eviction. You cannot be thrown out or locked out of the unit without order from the court. In eviction cases, you are provided with certain terms as a tenant. Consult your lawyer with regards to this matter.

8.  If you are evicted for non-payment of rent, you can avoid it by paying all the rent owned plus interest and the expense of filing an eviction case by the landlord. In non-payment of rent, you will be given a 14-day notice to quit and a thirty-day notice for reasons other than the rent.

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 Source: articlealley.com