If, when I signed the lease 3 years ago, my landlord did not require a pet deposit for my cat, can he suddenly decide to levy one?
Lease Renewal: Can an Apartment Complex manager arbitrarily decide not to renew your lease?
I’m having some problems getting some repairs done. It’s only repainting a scratched place the carpet cleaners left, but I can’t seem to get them off the dime and this has been going on since September. I have offered to do the painting myself (it would take 3 minutes), but they won’t leave me the touch-up paint, and I can’t just use any paint and take a chance on it matching.
I wrote a pretty strongly-worded letter which I sent along with my rent check, reminding them, but if numerous phone calls haven’t helped I don’t feel too optimistic about the letter.
My rent gets paid on time religiously, and I cannot see them waiting until it’s convenient for me to write the check, can you?
Anyway, I really like living at this place, and I’m not the only one having probs. I’m just worried they might try to “retaliate” as I mentioned above.
Sorry if this is a little disjointed, but I could really use some advice.
He can not make you pay a pet deposit untill you sign a new lease. And even then he must write up a new one stating terms and conditions of the pet deposite.
Yes but he must also give reasons as to why; to be sure you were not renewed becuase of some kind of prejudice. i.e. He found out you were gay or that you worship Ala instead of chritianity.
There should be an association in you area called the Fair tenants Association or something of that nature. (Call a local realtor they should have a phone number you can call.)
They will tell you what your rights are as a tenant. They will also help you enforce your rights if need be. But usualy it doesn’t come to that if you start quoting rules and regulations of fair housing to your apts; I garuntee you’ll get noticed. I know this from experince.
The state in which I live you need only send written notice of repairs that need to be done, then ave it signed by management. Then they have 30days to respond; after that you are not obligated to pay rent untill they do. In other states all you have to do is report them and the complex has to pay a hefty fine. Especialy when it comes to heating and A/C.
[sub] btw I mean not to imply nothing by answer number 2[/sub]
Every state has different laws regarding tenancy, you’ll have to look up your individual state. That said, I think that your landlord can require a pet deposit after the fact. Things change, after the terms of your original lease, usually no more than a year, the landlord is able to raise the rent, require additional deposits or ask you to stand on your head. In answer to number 2, I don’t know the laws in your state, but here in Idaho landlords can arbitrarily refuse to renew a lease for any reason they want to make up.
The big question is…why would they? If you have been there for three years and your only complaint is a scratch in the paint?? Getting tenants is time consuming and expensive, they are not very likely to give you the boot for being anal about a scratch in your paint.
It sounds like you have already documented the damage from the carpet cleaners, keep a copy of the request letter in your files and they can’t later blame you for the damage.
I agree with bare, every state, not to mention every country (where a thou?) has it’s own laws.
I could try to guess on your situation. However, the book store would be a great place to look for law books for your area. I prefer nolo.com Nolo Press law books, in particular, Tenant’s Handbook, about $22.00 for California, which is where I am.
Would anyone disagree with me that it’s okay if you make a written agreement & then both parties of the agreement later agree to change it so that a pet deposit can be added? As long as both parties agree to the change it should be alright, right?
I know this from experince.