Question: I live in a moderate-size apartment complex and pay more than $1,000 for a one-bedroom with a nice view. I love my apartment, but this building has lots of bugs, including spiders, ants, large water bugs, cockroaches, termites and silverfish. I had pest control spray once last summer, but the termites were back in full force after a week. I've had people tell me, "It's common in this area and you're going to have bugs no matter what." I think this building needs to be tented or condemned. Do I have any rights and do I just move on and let the next person deal with this?  more...

Question: My husband, 3-year-old daughter and I recently moved. My husband and I are smokers. The first night in our new apartment, the landlord said she wasn't aware that we were smokers, and asked that we not smoke in the front room, which is the living room. My husband and I agreed not to smoke in the living room. The landlord informed us that she couldn't smell the smoke, as long as we weren't smoking in the living room. After about a month the landlord informed us that she doesn't want smoking in the house period.  more...

Question: I have rented my condo to a low-income family through the city's rental assistance program. The government pays the majority of their rent, as there is only one working adult and four children in the rental unit. The nonworking father constantly is calling me to point out things that may need repair or replaced mostly from wear and tear. Every contact includes his offer to do the repairs as long as I pay him. I am tired of his persistent calls and I am beginning to wonder if I should let him do the work? Or should I continue to rely on my trusted handyman from outside?  more...

Question: The management has been renovating all the apartments where we live. They force tenants to move to other apartments while their apartment is renovated. All the temporary moves are at the tenant's expense. If the tenant chooses to come back to the renovated apartment, he/she has to pay higher rent. Should the landlord management company pay the moving expenses? What are the tenant's rights in this case?

Tenants' attorney Kellman replies:

The landlord has a right to make routine repairs and maintenance on the unit.  more...

Question: I am an apartment manager and my tenant called me on a Sunday night to tell me that she just arrived back from a four-day trip and found the refrigerator had broken down and all the food was spoiled. The next day, I ordered the tenant a new refrigerator, which was delivered on Tuesday. Now she wants me to pay for her spoiled food. I would like to know if I am responsible for her spoiled food?  more...

Question: I have a friend who owns a rental unit and the tenant refuses to pay the rent. This has gone on for several months. The tenant is a menace and offered to move if my friend gave him $7,000. My friend was desperate so he agreed, but the tenant changed his mind -- this deadbeat would rather live rent-free. My friend has consulted lawyers but has been told tenants' rights (especially in some rent-control areas) are so strong that there is nothing he can do. Any advice?

Landlords' attorney McKinley replies:

Your friend has been given bad advice.  more...

Question: I would like to know if I can get my pet deposit back even though I am still living in my apartment. My dog died shortly after I moved in, and I am not getting another one. My landlord says the deposit cannot be refunded until I move out, which I don't plan on doing for a few years.

Property manager Griswold replies:

I understand your concern and desire to have your pet deposit returned now that your dog died and you have no plans for a new one. However, I think that it is reasonable for the landlord to hold your pet deposit until you vacate the premises.  more...

Question: Recently my mother signed a lease and paid a deposit for an apartment and decided it was not the right choice for her. She contacted the landlord within two days (verbally) and gave a written letter within three days. The landlord said it was fine but then changed his mind and now wishes to hold her to the lease.  more...

Question: I currently rent a three-bedroom home and I deal directly with the owner of the house as my landlord. I currently pay a gardener $60 per month to cut the grass and shrubbery, as we have a good-sized backyard. It seems odd to me that I should be responsible for incurring this cost when I don't even own the house. Am I or is the landlord responsible for lawn and garden maintenance of my rental home?

Property manager Griswold replies:

There are no laws or rules regarding who is responsible for taking care of the grounds/landscaping.  more...

Question: I just moved out of an apartment that I rented for about 6 1/2 years. I had painted the apartment a terracotta color after asking the onsite manager for permission in advance. We never discussed the actual color that I would be painting, but he indicated that it was OK because the apartment would have to be painted when I moved anyway. I think the apartment looks much better in this color than the dull boring colors used by the landlord.  more...

Question: I recently received a little dog for my birthday. I took the dog with no worries, thinking it was OK since my apartment neighbor has two small dogs and also breeds them and sometimes has four or more dogs for several months. Those dogs bark and follow you every time you walk by. My dog is always on a leash and never barks when someone walks by. Now, the owner wants me to get rid of my dog. I never realized there was a "no pets" line in our lease.  more...

Question: Please let me know what tenant-landlord regulations apply to renting an illegal rental unit that is part of the two-family home we lease. We live in a rental unit on the lower floor, while a single mother and her child live in the upper flat. The 37-year-old unemployed son of our landlords lived in this bootleg rental unit off the garage rent-free, even using the utilities connected to our flat. Last month, he accidentally set the place on fire and the police discovered drug paraphernalia in the son's room while the firemen were here.  more...