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Family challenges 'cure or quit' notice

By Janet Portman, Thursday, July 3, 2008.

Q: My wife and I received a three-day "Notice to cure or quit" from our property manager. The manager claims my child was throwing thrash and making excessive noise inside the apartment complex. When we asked for proof, they said that they did not have any. In fact, we found out that there were several other children playing with our child on the alleged date, and their parents did not receive notices. I smell discrimination! --Robert more...

Why can't mom have live-in assistant?

By Janet Portman, Thursday, June 26, 2008.

Q: We're landlords with a somewhat off-beat question. My mother is about to enter a continuing-care residential community, which requires her to be able to "live independently." She is independent now, and will have no problems taking care of herself in her apartment, but she has a medical condition that will eventually require her to hire a personal assistant to help with dressing, eating and bathing. more...

Buying a rental? Check permits first

By Janet Portman, Thursday, June 19, 2008.

Q: I am a new rental property owner and was recently cited for a code violation. Apparently, a previous owner did some work on the property following a fire, for which he obtained the correct permits. But he never scheduled the final inspection. Like us, the seller from whom we bought the property had no knowledge of the problem. Are we responsible for the fine and for doing any work required to pass inspection? --Nel N. more...

Is renter victim of 'linguistic profiling'?

By Janet Portman, Thursday, June 12, 2008.

Q: Our family is looking for a new apartment. This morning, after I saw a good one advertised in the paper, I called and was told that the unit had been rented. About 15 minutes later, not realizing that I had called already, my daughter called and got an appointment to see it right away! I think there's something going on here -- I speak with a Latino accent, but my daughter has none. Am I being too suspicious? --Delia J. more...

Help! My tenants are illegal aliens

By Janet Portman, Thursday, June 5, 2008.

Q: I am a landlord in a Southern border state. I've just learned that a family on my property is in the United States illegally. On the one hand, I really don't care -- these are good tenants who pay the rent and cause no problems. But I remember that some churches in our state were charged with illegally "harboring" illegal immigrants many years ago, and I'm wondering if I am at risk for being charged with harboring this family. --William P.

A: "Harboring" a person who is illegally in the United States has been a federal crime since 1917. It's been used against human trafficking rings and, in the 1980s, against the Sanctuary Movement that involved churches and individuals giving shelter to Central American asylum seekers. more...

Pit bull service dog unwelcome

By Janet Portman, Thursday, May 29, 2008.

Q: A tenant who is qualified to rent an apartment has asked us to allow her to bring her service dog, which is a pit bull mix. We aren't arguing over whether she is legally disabled, and we would normally allow the service animal on the property, even though we have a "no pets" policy. But our insurance policy forbids pit bulls, and if we allow one to live here, we risk cancellation or higher premiums. We don't want to be slapped with a fair housing lawsuit, either. What should we do? --Henry H. more...

Nobody wants mental health clinic next-door

By Janet Portman, Thursday, May 22, 2008.

Q: We rent a really cool loft in a renovated downtown building, which has space for retail on the ground floor. We were hoping we'd see a restaurant, café or other retail establishment move in, but instead we've just learned that a mental health services organization will be our new neighbors. We know that the neighborhood is "edgy," and we accept the fact that there are a fair amount of homeless people in our midst. But enough is enough -- it just doesn't feel safe. Do you think we have grounds to break our lease? --Juan L. more...

Be careful what you say about landlord online

By Janet Portman, Thursday, May 15, 2008.

Q: I own a large apartment complex. I'm worried about the effect of an online message board on my business. Hosted by a large Internet service provider, the message board solicits input from tenants about housing issues, and there's currently a string of messages concerning my complex, complaining about the rent, security-deposit return practices, and general management. Two posters have written rambling, flaming rants about our employees and business practices. This is very damaging stuff if it's read by prospective tenants. more...

Disabled tenant wants larger unit at reduced price
By Janet Portman, Thursday, May 8, 2008.

Q: I've lived for years in a spacious studio apartment and now find it necessary to hire a live-in aide. I'd like to move to a two-bedroom, but I can't afford it. Can I expect my landlord to offer me the two-bedroom at the same rate I'm paying now, because I'm disabled? He's refusing, and he's also saying that having two people in my studio violates his occupancy policy. Do I have any legal answers to either of these positions? --Patricia U. more...

Pending foreclosure doesn't mean stop paying rent
By Janet Portman, Thursday, May 1, 2008.

Q: I own a rental property occupied by tenants who are two months into their one-year lease. Soon, very soon, the bank will foreclose on this property. I would like to know if I am legally entitled to collect rent during this process. more...

Roommate furious after surprise police search
By Janet Portman, Thursday, April 24, 2008.

Q: I share an apartment with another guy. The police showed up at our door last night, saying that a nearby apartment had been burglarized and asking to be let in to look around. I said OK, and they came in, looked around, and left. My roommate, who wasn't home, is furious with me, and said I had no right to allow the cops to enter. What do you think? --Paul M. more...

Tenant learns true meaning of 'free rent'
By Janet Portman, Thursday, April 17, 2008.

Q: My daughter, a single mom with two small children, had just gotten out of an abusive marriage three years ago when friends invited her to place a mobile home on a piece of their property. The landowners gave my daughter a signed declaration that she would never have to pay rent and would never be evicted. On the strength of this declaration, she was able to purchase a mobile home. The sellers told her that without the declaration, she would not have qualified for the mobile home purchase. more...

Tenants say security deposit increase is illegal
By Janet Portman, Thursday, April 10, 2008.

Q: Our one-year lease expired four months ago and we defaulted to a month-to-month tenancy. Our landlord recently gave us notice of a rent increase (11 percent more!) and a security deposit increase. I realize our landlord can increase the rent (with proper notice), but I question his ability to increase the security deposit, too. more...

Remodel snag could cost tenants their unit
By Janet Portman, Thursday, April 3, 2008.

Q: We rent a single-family home that needs some work. We're going to hire and pay the contractors, and deduct the cost from the rent. Our written agreement with the landlord includes our promise that we not allow a "mechanic's lien" to be filed against the property (we lose our lease if that happens). What does this mean? --Jeb B. more...

Raising rent on advertised unit a risky move
By Janet Portman, Thursday, March 27, 2008.

Q: I've taken over the management of my family's small apartment building and recently spoke with someone who answered my ad for a vacant unit. After talking with other owners nearby, I realized that I had set the rent $200 below market. We haven't signed a lease yet, and I'm wondering if I can correct my mistake. --Tim A. more...

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