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Is renter victim of 'linguistic profiling'?

By Janet Portman, Wednesday, June 11, 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, Wednesday, June 4, 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, Wednesday, May 28, 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, Wednesday, May 21, 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, Wednesday, May 14, 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, Wednesday, May 7, 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, Wednesday, April 30, 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, Wednesday, April 23, 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, Wednesday, April 16, 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, Wednesday, April 9, 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, Wednesday, April 2, 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, Wednesday, March 26, 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...

Medical marijuana use draws mixed reaction
By Janet Portman, Thursday, March 20, 2008.

Q: I have always included a clause in my leases that says if tenants use drugs on the property, they're out. I recently smelled marijuana coming from the apartment of a tenant who moved in a few months ago. When I confronted this tenant, he claimed he uses marijuana for medical reasons, and said that because even the police won't arrest him for his use, I have to allow him to use it and continue to live here. Is he right? --Dale S. more...

Can townhouse community ban RV parking?
By Janet Portman, Thursday, March 13, 2008.

Q: I own a townhouse that I rent out. One of the rules in our development restricts residents and guests from parking RVs in their driveways or on the streets. My tenants just bought an RV and tell me that because there's no state or local law forbidding anyone from parking an RV at a rental home or even on the city streets, they should be able to do so despite our community rule. Do state laws override our CC&Rs? --Dorothy H. more...

Corporate tenant's guests rack up complaints
By Janet Portman, Thursday, March 6, 2008.

Q: I recently signed a one-year lease to rent an apartment in a large complex. Early on, I noticed that there was a lot of turnover in the apartment above me; tenants seemed to stay from two days to several weeks, but not longer. I've recently learned that this is a "corporate unit" leased by a large, local company to put up their visitors and guests. Some of these tenants are noisy, playing loud music late at night and having regular parties at mid-week. When I complained to the property manager, I was told there was nothing he could do about it. more...

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