Tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities

Landlord Legal Responsibilities

Property Condition

Your landlord must make your rental property safe and livable. This includes:

• Access to all parts of the property that you are leasing
• Water
• Hot water
• Fixing leaks/floods
• Heat
• Fixing plumbing
• Fixing radiator problems
• Electricity
• Exterminating mice/rats/bugs etc.
• Addressing mold issues

Here is a longer list of your landlord’s responsibilities.

Rent Receipts

Your landlord must give you a written receipt when you:

• request it 
• or pay by cash, money order, or cashier’s check (anything other than the personal check).

The receipt must have the payment date, the amount, the period for which the rent was paid, and the apartment number. The receipt must be signed by the person receiving the payment and state their title. Once you request a receipt, your landlord has to give you one every time you pay. Your landlord also must keep proof of cash rent receipts for 3 years.

Rent Increase Notices

If your landlord is increasing your rent by more than 5% they must give you a:

• 90 day written notice if you have lived in your apartment for two or more years or if you have a two year written lease;
• 60 day written notice if you have lived in your apartment for more than one year, but less than two years; and
• 30 day written notice if you have lived in your apartment for less than one year, or have a lease for less than one year.

Security Deposit Return

After your move-out date, the landlord has 14 days to return your security deposit. If your landlord keeps any of the deposit, they have to give you a list explaining each deduction.

 

Tenant Legal Responsibilities

Paying Rent

You are responsible for paying rent when it is due. Your landlord cannot charge a late fee for rent until you are more than 5 days late.  Late fees cannot be more than $50 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is less. This is true even if your lease agreement says the fee is higher. 

Note: if you are in court for eviction, your landlord cannot request late fees. (Even if your lease says that late fees are  “additional rent.”)

Property Damage

You are responsible for telling your landlord about damage on the rented property. If you caused the damage and it is more than normal "wear and tear," you might have to pay for repairs.