Tenant and Landlord Responsibilities: What You Need to Know Before Renting
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Loading... - Sharon Lambert
- 02 Mar 2023
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Rental housing laws are in place to protect both landlords and tenants throughout the rental relationship. Whether the apartment is in Baltimore, MD, or Tacoma, WA, both parties need a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities under federal, state, and local regulations. Rental property owners want to protect their property and operate a profitable business. While tenants want to live safely and peacefully in their rental home, be informed about their property, and be treated fairly. Tenants and landlords who take their responsibilities seriously will help keep the relationship friendly, constructive, and easier to manage in the long run.
What do tenants need to know before renting? The tenant-landlord relationship includes expectations for the tenant, like paying rent on time and honoring the lease agreement – plus keeping the property clean, safe, and habitable. On the landlord side, responsibilities fall into five broad categories: security deposit, disclosure of owner, delivering possession of the unit, maintenance, and liability.
Let’s take a closer look at tenant and landlord responsibilities and how they affect each party.
The lease agreement signed by the landlord and tenant explains the rights granted to each party. Landlords should know all of the terms in the lease and understand their rights. According to federal, state, and local laws, they should also know the responsibilities they agree to.
Landlord responsibilities to the tenant
What are landlords responsible for? The list of landlord responsibilities includes five areas: security deposit, disclosure of owner, delivering possession of the unit, maintenance, and liability.
Management of security deposit or prepaid rent
Every landlord has the right to charge a security deposit for their property rental. The security deposit is provided funds if the tenant breaches their lease, doesn’t pay rent, or damages the property. State and local laws determine the maximum amount of security deposit a landlord can charge, what the security deposit can be used for, and when it must be returned.
Obligation to disclose owner
It’s the landlord’s responsibility to share certain information about the property owner to their tenants. The tenant doesn’t need to know who owns the building, but they must be informed about the name and address of the person or people who collect rent, manage the building, make repairs, issue notices, or address complaints. This information should be part of the lease agreement and provided in writing. Read More…
