I'm about to sign a lease with a peculiar clause about carpet cleaning. I have had a lot of leases before and I don't recall ever seeing anything quite like this. I'm wondering if it's just a standard thing I haven't seen before, or if it's unusual or even unlawful. [more inside]
posted on Jul 23, 2008 - 24 answers

I'm compiling a list of questions to ask prospective landlords when viewing their properties in Chicago next week. Help me make sure I'm asking everything I should be! [more inside]
posted on Jun 3, 2008 - 15 answers

Paying for gas to light the boiler pilot lights in a NYC apartment? [more inside]
posted on May 23, 2008 - 8 answers

Please help! My landlord management company refuses to let me terminate my lease early. What can I do? [more inside]
posted on May 19, 2008 - 25 answers

The communal washing machines in my apartment building are worthless. They don't remove any sort of stain or spill, regardless of solubility or severity. When I remove the wet clothes from the washer, nasty stripes and splotches of lint cover my clothes (especially obvious on darks). Is there a specific complaint I can make to my landlord, or should I just give up and go to a laundromat? [more inside]
posted on May 9, 2008 - 18 answers

Renting an apartment on Craigslist - 4 very similar applicants. Is this a scam? [more inside]
posted on May 1, 2008 - 11 answers

What can I do to prevent a toilet falling through my ceiling and crushing me, and how do I finagle the end of this (literal) mess? [more inside]
posted on Apr 26, 2008 - 21 answers

MA filter: Must I have fuse box access if I rent an apartment? [more inside]
posted on Feb 17, 2008 - 7 answers

Apartment life. The smoker downstairs is making it very difficult for me to breathe! [more inside]
posted on Jan 13, 2008 - 17 answers

Is our New York City landlord responsible for repairing our broken oven? [more inside]
posted on Jan 6, 2008 - 14 answers

A window in our apartment was broken by the previous tenants. When my roommates and I moved in this summer, our landlord told us that he'd get it fixed within 6-8 weeks. Winter's here, it still hasn't been fixed and it's causing our utilities to skyrocket. I know YANAL, but we need a bit of legal advice... [more inside]
posted on Jan 2, 2008 - 15 answers

I seem to have lost my keys. I wish it were just that simple. [more inside]
posted on Dec 18, 2007 - 22 answers

What do I do if my landlord claims I've breached a rental agreement by smoking marijuana in the apartment, when I haven't actually done so? [more inside]
posted on Dec 1, 2007 - 27 answers

Ontario property management firm charging "service fees" just to apply for an apartment rental? This has got to be illegal. [more inside]
posted on Nov 7, 2007 - 20 answers

Landlord took 60 days to return security deposit (the max is 45 days), there has been no interest added to it, and she's taken a healthy chunk of money out for "repairs." This is in Chicago. Should I take her to court? [more inside]
posted on Oct 31, 2007 - 22 answers

My landlord in NY claims that our heater must turn on when the temperature drops. If we wanted to prevent this, a technician would have to "turn the valves off" -- a cumbersome process that risks the valves later freezing and "popping" and steam destroying our apartment. True? Is this common? And if so, how can we deal with a too-hot room, other than by opening the window?
posted on Oct 26, 2007 - 30 answers

My landlord won't give me my deposit back. Is there anything I can do? [more inside]
posted on Sep 12, 2007 - 20 answers

I'm being kicked out of my apartment, but I've done nothing wrong! Can I do anything? [more inside]
posted on Aug 3, 2007 - 20 answers

Does my friend have any recourse in a situation where he was told he could rent a place, attempted to discuss the rental with the landlord over a period of two weeks to no avail, and then was told the place was rented to someone else? [more inside]
posted on Jul 29, 2007 - 16 answers

Have any Chicago mefites had experience with Hunter Properties, Acorn Management, Lake Front Management, Lee Street Apartment Rentals, or Water Tower Realty? Praise is as welcome as criticism. [more inside]
posted on Jul 4, 2007 - 3 answers

I"ve been using the basement under my apartment as shared storage space with other tenants since I moved in over 3 years ago. The property management now wants to charge me for this. Should I fight this or just start paying? [more inside]
posted on Jul 2, 2007 - 6 answers

Is this mold? I just leased an apartment and then found standing water, a leak, and what looks like a lot of mold. I want out. Property manager obviously doesn't want to let me out without lots of money. [more inside]
posted on Jun 21, 2007 - 22 answers

What rights do I have if my landlord wants to do 3 weeks of repairs on my apartment? [more inside]
posted on Jun 12, 2007 - 13 answers

Can my new landlord leave me off the lease? [more inside]
posted on Jun 11, 2007 - 7 answers

My apartment was entered without the knowledge or consent of me, or my landlord. Is this trespassing? [more inside]
posted on Jun 8, 2007 - 21 answers

The three bedroom apartment I just leased is supposed to be "fully furnished," but I've just discovered that one of the bedrooms is empty. Is my landlord in the wrong? What do I do now? [more inside]
posted on Jun 2, 2007 - 22 answers

We signed a lease (2 copies) on a new apartment in NYC, at our broker's office. The 2 copies were sent to the management company. As promised, the management company sent one of the copies back to us about a week later. It's got our original signatures, but the landlord didn't sign it! The line for the landlord's signature is empty. Doesn't this mean that we're bound to the terms of the contract, but the landlord is not? It seems very wrong. Is it normal? Should we demand a copy of the lease with the signatures of both parties on it?
posted on May 28, 2007 - 18 answers

Can my landlord prohibit me from installing a satellite dish on my apartment's property? [more inside]
posted on May 17, 2007 - 36 answers

Help-Me-Get-Out-of-My-Lease-Filter: My landlord made a mistake when filling out my lease. I'm wondering if I can hold him to it. [more inside]
posted on Apr 3, 2007 - 22 answers

I'm moving to Chicago with my fiancé in August. We're looking for a two bedroom that we won't regret. Oh, and we're poor as hell. Is it even possible to find a two bedroom for less than $1,000? Inside is a list of more particular criteria. [more inside]
posted on Apr 2, 2007 - 21 answers

Do I owe my downstairs neighbor damages for a leak in my apartment building? [more inside]
posted on Mar 8, 2007 - 10 answers

I've tried Google-ing and I've done what I can manage with the archives, but I'm not finding the answer to my how-warm-is-the-landlord-obligated-to-keep-my-apartment question... [more inside]
posted on Jan 30, 2007 - 9 answers

Security Deposit Dispute: Will going to court hurt my credit? [more inside]
posted on Oct 17, 2006 - 10 answers

NoWaterFilter: My landlord had to shut down the water on Saturday and only gave me a couple of hours warning. It's Monday and it's still not on. I'm in Ontario and I'm wondering what my rights are in this situation. [more inside]
posted on Oct 2, 2006 - 20 answers

Anyone have experience with legalizing an apartment in NYC? I inherited a basement apartment with my single-family Queens house. Have a great relationship with my tenant and do not want to evict. Recently, though, I've received notices from the city to discontinue "illegal use of space for living." In addition to evicting that would involve tearing out the tub, a wall, and other stuff. [more inside]
posted on Sep 6, 2006 - 12 answers

Who's responsible for a termite infestation? Tenant or landlord? [more inside]
posted on Sep 3, 2006 - 2 answers

Oregon Landlord/Tenant LawFilter Help: I moved out of an apartment three months ago. I received a collection notice a few weeks ago, billing for replacement carpet. Help! [more inside]
posted on Jun 8, 2006 - 11 answers

First-time landlord questions inside. [more inside]
posted on May 9, 2006 - 13 answers

I'm about to sign a lease for a new loft that's currently under construction. They have set a move in date for the new place: August 1st. My current end-of-lease and move-out date is July 31st - what if the new place isn't finished? [more inside]
posted on Apr 4, 2006 - 14 answers

What will it take for my friend to find an apartment now that he's been evicted? [more inside]
posted on Mar 21, 2006 - 12 answers

The apartment upstairs had a water leak (so they say) yesterday in the middle of the night, and by the time I got up and noticed it, there was about a foot of water over everything in the kitchen and living room. We called the landlord company and they sucked out most of the water. Who's responsible for damages for damaged electronics (laptop), food, and other problems (bumpy tiled kitchen floor or stained carpets)? We rent.
posted on Mar 5, 2006 - 12 answers

ApartmentFilter: Is it financially safe to not clean up impeccably when moving out of an apartment, or will a landlord normally go after you for money over and above the security deposit, if they think enough work was involved? [more inside]
posted on Jan 26, 2006 - 17 answers

Need help convincing my landlord to accept a shortened notice to vacate my apartment. [more inside]
posted on Nov 21, 2005 - 20 answers

"Your apartment was subject to a management inspection on October 4th. The housekeeping of your apartment was found to be in a very unsatisfactory condition and a fire hazard"... Can our landlord come in to see if we've tidied up unannounced? [more inside]
posted on Oct 17, 2005 - 26 answers

I moved out of an apartment abruptly in January due to extenuating circumstances (a murder in the building), now I have a bill for $5000. Lots more inside. [more inside]
posted on Oct 3, 2005 - 17 answers

I'm looking for a good Chicago apartment and landlord ... and also, thoughts on how to practically avoid stinkers when you can't talk to and/or don't know the tenants. [more inside]
posted on Sep 6, 2005 - 19 answers

My landlords hasn't returned my deposit yet and it's been three months. [more inside]
posted on Aug 31, 2005 - 17 answers

One of the few repairs that needs to be performed on our next apartment is a leaky bathtub faucet. Not mere drips: a constant steady stream of water is wasted. If they are unwilling to fix this leak, would I be silly not to take this otherwise perfect apartment? How guilty should I feel about so much water wastage? [more inside]
posted on May 2, 2005 - 12 answers

Renting an apartment in downtown Montréal [plus à l'intérieur]
posted on Sep 30, 2004 - 14 answers

TenantFilter: So I gave permission for the building manager to let a contractor into my apartment to do some fix up work. Not only does she not let him in personally, which is what I thought I okayed, but she leaves the key to another tenant to pass on to the contractor when he shows up. Am I overreacting in thinking that was way out of line? How do I go about responding to something like this?
posted on Jul 18, 2004 - 11 answers