Before calamity strikes, do you know where the gas shutoff valve is? Are you in the dark when you need to locate your breaker box or even the fire extinguisher? As a tenant, you often don't have any idea where various shutoff equipment is located, and you may not have the tools to do the job. Knowing how and where to shut off water, gas and electricity are basic abilities every tenant should possess. That problem can be handily solved by making a checklist and requesting the landlord provide shutoff information.  more...

Q: I've had a tough time finding a rental because I smoke. I found a great place but was told it was a "smoke-free" building, inside and out. Don't I have a right to smoke wherever I want?

A: The right to smoke depends on when and where you want to light up. Smoking has become a huge source of conflict, especially in light of health concerns regarding secondhand smoke. Fanning the flames are smokers who maintain that smoking is their right and should not be compromised.  more...

Q: I'm uneasy about providing my Social Security number on a rental application. Should I worry about sharing that information?

A: You are right to worry about providing personal credit information. In November, the Federal Trade Commission reported that 8.3 million U.S. adults had been victims of identity theft in 2005.  more...

Does someone owe you money and you think you have a case? If you've already exhausted every reasonable avenue and feel like you're spinning your wheels, you may want to try another route. Welcome to small claims court, where anyone can have his or her day in court without a lawyer at their side. Devised to give the average person a chance to present his or her case, it is inexpensive and relatively easy to pursue.  more...

Q: My landlord ignores my repeated requests for repairs. Can I get things fixed and take it out of the rent?  more...

Q: I live in an older building and my apartment doesn't have enough electrical outlets. Isn't the owner required to add more or update the system?

A: Depends of what condition the system is in. A property owner is normally required to keep a place "fit and habitable," which is defined in most places by state law and sometimes honed by county, city, village or town laws as well. "Habitable" means that the rental unit is fit for occupation or "suitable to be lived in." Unfortunately, what's considered "suitable" for some dwellers may not suit other folks at all.  more...

Q: I'm thinking of giving notice and moving out of my place. Any suggestions?

A: First, are you sure you want to move out? If you're leaving due to a curable reason, you may want to give the situation a healthy look, especially if the rent or location is hard to match. Potentially curable problems run the gamut from noisy neighbors to increased rents to dripping faucets. Incurable problems include an undesirable location, permanent sources of noise, or a landlord unwilling or unable to fix problems.  more...

With warm weather in the forecast and summer activities on the calendar, being alert to intruders and crime should also be in your plans.

How to avoid being vulnerable to intruders both inside and out?  more...

Q: What questions should I ask when calling about an apartment?

A: With skyrocketing competition, a lot of prospective tenants are nervous and don't know what to say when calling about a place. Before you dial the number, be sure to read the advertisement carefully and have it in front of you for reference.  more...

Maintaining a good relationship between tenants and landlords can be maddening. How to avoid walking the tension high wire? By noticing maintenance issues that crop up and reporting them before serious damage or danger takes root. Communicating clearly to the landlord about repairs in writing is always a good idea. What types of problems should tenants typically watch for?  more...

Q: My college-age son is moving into his first apartment. Any suggestions to ease the transition?

A: Leaving the nest and becoming a first-time renter? He'll have lots of company. According to the 2005 U.S. Census Community Survey, more than 36 million rental units are rented out in the United States. That's a lot of first-time renters who have found a place to call home.  more...