I'm a landlord for a owner-occupied 4-unit bldg. I know I can't discriminate, with respect to tenant selection, regarding "family status", but am I free to prefer a single-occupancy renter to a family? My motivation is mostly remunerative -- included in rent are: water, hot water, and heat, and so a single renter is cheaper for me than a family of three with respect to those utilities. Is my preference for 1 vs. 3 rentors actionable discrimination? (Call me a miser if you like, but I'm under rent control, and I need to watch my costs, since it is near impossible to pass inflationary costs on to tenants.)
posted by JimDe on Nov 22, 2009 - 15 answers

I live in London in a flat of three, and someone wants to move out. We have someone else ready to move in. The lettings agency wish to charge £150 for swapping a person over, and £100 for admin fees. Can we dispute this, for a more reasonable fee? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 16, 2009 - 6 answers

I'd like to know how to deal with an unwanted "guest" living in an apartment that I'm paying rent for. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 1, 2009 - 23 answers

Does my new landlord have to honor my old lease? [more inside]
posted by ian1977 on Oct 6, 2009 - 15 answers

Does my landlord have to give me advance notice if he's going to shut down the building's water for a few hours? This is in Ontario. [more inside]
posted by Beardman on Oct 2, 2009 - 8 answers

I've got eleven months to go on a lease, and a whole slew of problems with a new (to me) apartment, and a cheap, possibly negligent landlord. How do I remedy them? LOTS of details inside. But if you don't want to read the whole kit-and-caboodle inside here are the Cliff notes: (a) Landlord took more than weeks to fix the unusable bathroom sink; blamed the repairman. (b) Landlord expects me to find/select/transport the washer/dryer he’s obligated by lease to provide, and was missing on our move-in, and for less than $200. (c) Landlord flat-out refused to clean disgustingly smelly carpets we encountered on moving day (d) Landlord reneged on verbal agreement to replace crappy kitchen linoleum (e) Landlord made repeated, guilt-trippy and borderline abusive calls about first month's rent, and (bonus) (f) makes (super odd) references to lesbians. [Way too many details inside; you probably don't need to bother reading unless you want specific specifics] [more inside]
posted by mr. remy on Sep 30, 2009 - 21 answers

What should I charge to manage a property? A friend recently asked me to help him fill his rentals. I filled all ten in a month with good tenants. We did not set a fee in advance - I wanted to see how it went before I committed to the job. How much should I ask for? [more inside]
posted by walla on Sep 23, 2009 - 20 answers

Subleasing tenant cosmetically damaged my table. How much, if any, of her deposit should I keep? [more inside]
posted by evadery on Sep 3, 2009 - 25 answers

After signing the lease and paying the deposit, the owner is asking me to sign a release saying that I know that the door buzzer system does not work and will not be fixed. Is a buzzer something that I'll wish that I had, or will I be fine just having people call when they need to be let in? The buzzer wasn't mentioned either way before I signed the lease (but I saw that the building had a buzzer system without thinking to check it). I wouldn't want to try to get out of the lease and have to redo my apartment search, but it does seem a bit weird not being warned about this in advance. Do I have any recourse? Can I force them to fix it or to give me some sort of discount on my rent, or should I just let it slide? [more inside]
posted by vegetableagony on Aug 19, 2009 - 30 answers

Help! My landlord is trying to scam me! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 11, 2009 - 20 answers

Property manager hid that other duplex tenant is property owner when getting me to sign lease. [more inside]
posted by ishotjr on Jul 3, 2009 - 21 answers

My landlords want to kick me out and move into my apartment. They gave me the 60 days notice, but I have some questions about the validity of their notice. [more inside]
posted by krunk on Jun 16, 2009 - 17 answers

Moving out of rental house because landlord's lease violates zoning laws, can he bring us to court to get rent? [more inside]
posted by phishie on Jun 3, 2009 - 49 answers

Should I take my former landlord to small claims court? [more inside]
posted by heartquake on May 27, 2009 - 16 answers

Philly filter: Is my gas bill too high and/or is my landlord shady? We get charged a ton for "indirect" charges by a non-PGW company and must write our checks payable to the landlord, not the utility. I also pay the same amount every month, and am not enrolled in some budget plan that makes the amount due the same each month. Several residents (me included) think this is some sort of way for the landlord to rip us off. [more inside]
posted by midatlanticwanderer on May 23, 2009 - 7 answers

Mrs Baggers and I are now landlords, and we are looking for new tenants. What resources would you recommend to help us pick good tenants? [more inside]
posted by baggers on May 7, 2009 - 13 answers

We're filing a complaint against our landlord in Ontario's Landlord and Tenant Board regarding their maintenance man who is also our downstairs neighbor. Tell me what worked in your successful complaint. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 3, 2009 - 8 answers

In 2001, we moved into our current apartment. It's a slighty dumpy (yet cheap) basement apartment. Along with our apartmet, we received two parking spots and a separate locking storage area in the basement. A few years ago, our landlord sold the building. No problems with the new landlord- everything has been the same. In late March of this year, our landlord mentioned that he wants the locking area for his stuff and told us we must have our stuff cleared out by May. Can he do this? Can we receive compensation (ie x amount off our rent)? We live in Massachusetts , do not want to move unless we have to and don't want to tick off the landlord. The building itself has 4 other apartments and the landlord lives offsite, if that makes a difference. AFAIK, our apartment is legal. Advice, please!
posted by pentagoet on Apr 2, 2009 - 12 answers

I was recently out of the country on vacation. The tenants at my rental property had a plumbing emergency while I was unreachable, and I suspect they were taken advantage of. What options do I have? [more inside]
posted by puddleglum on Mar 25, 2009 - 7 answers

My previous landlord never returned my security deposit ($1,650) last autumn. I live in Chicago. Do I get an attorney (and if so how do I choose one) or do I take it to small claims court myself? What are the pros/cons of either approach? [more inside]
posted by allisonrae on Feb 23, 2009 - 11 answers

LandlordFilter: Who's got credit and criminal background checking service recommendations? [more inside]
posted by ignignokt on Feb 22, 2009 - 6 answers

My fiance and I made the mistake of renting from a young friend of mine who just bought her first house here in London, Ontario, Canada. We have been here since November 1st with nothing but trouble - construction which pushed back our move-in date by two weeks and then continued for weeks afterwards, incredibly loud dogs (she has 3 dogs upstairs who are almost always in cages) not to mention domestic fights from upstairs. [more inside]
posted by DecemberRaine on Feb 19, 2009 - 9 answers

I've heard that one can sever certain contracts they sign in Ontario if it's within the first 10 days of signing. If this is true, does it also apply to a lease on a house?
posted by gman on Feb 16, 2009 - 5 answers

What, if any, are the non-monetary benefits of bundling insurance policies (specifically auto and tenant)? [more inside]
posted by kitkatcathy on Feb 13, 2009 - 4 answers

Need some landlord/tenant advice. Basement flooded and my insurance say it doesn't cover it due to negligence by the landlord. Full details inside. [more inside]
posted by thebwit on Feb 13, 2009 - 7 answers

Have I done enough to help this person? I rented a spare room to a distant relative; now the situation has gone sour (and very smelly). [more inside]
posted by TDIpod on Jan 5, 2009 - 22 answers

I'm moving out of my apartment in Washington, DC. My landlords didn't require a written lease agreement. How much notice am I legally required to give? [more inside]
posted by sun_also_rises on Dec 1, 2008 - 13 answers

Situation: A boyfriend girlfriend sign a lease for an apartment in Mississauga, Ontario. They break up. The girlfriend leaves. The landlord did a credit check on the girlfriend. So this _might_ hold her liable. Boyfriend is still shacked up in this house and landlord keeps harassing the girlfriend for rent. What can she do? [more inside]
posted by Devileyezz on Nov 26, 2008 - 19 answers

Messy housing situation, tenant is manipulating landlord's poor English skills and profiting. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 17, 2008 - 8 answers

The superintendent of my building has been dragging her feet for months on getting the building's washer and dryers repaired. In my lease, it says that the landlord is responsible for the upkeep of these items. The management company that actually owns the building and pays the super's salary is also not being responsive. Now what? [more inside]
posted by schroedinger on Sep 12, 2008 - 13 answers

Los Angeles Housing Filter: Three names and signatures on our lease. One person wants out, and to substitute another individual in his place. Any experience with who typically needs to consent here? Leaving Person + Landlord? All Tenants + Landlord? Yes, we may need a lawyer, but we're still being civil enough not to call in the big guns, and any advice/resources provided here may be sufficient. [more inside]
posted by adamk on Sep 1, 2008 - 8 answers

Here's my situation: I live in Washington, DC. I notified my landlord about a month ago that I was offered a job in another city, and would want to either assign my lease to someone new, or sublet. This is allowed with his consent. I have one roommate who wants to stay in the 2 bedroom condo we live in. We presented a prospective tenant to the landlord with a rental application, and now the landlord is accusing us of all sorts of things... [more inside]
posted by BobbyVan on Aug 2, 2008 - 10 answers

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 by Cogito on Jul 23, 2008 - 24 answers

How do I get out of the Brooklyn sublet I just moved into without pissing off my other tenants? [more inside]
posted by whitedoor on Jun 30, 2008 - 16 answers

EvictionFilter: How do I evict a tenant for unpaid rent in Tennessee? [more inside]
posted by lost_cause on Jun 17, 2008 - 6 answers

Inveterate cannabis smoker as a tenant. Other tenants complaining of smoke that befouls the hallways and apartment above. As landlord, what should I do? [more inside]
posted by Gordion Knott on Jun 6, 2008 - 29 answers

Can a Chicago landlord transfer storm liability for the structure to the tenant? Can I get out of it? [more inside]
posted by a robot made out of meat on May 28, 2008 - 16 answers

My landlord is a slime bucket and I need to break my lease. What kind of repercussions might I face? [more inside]
posted by Sloop John B on May 14, 2008 - 11 answers

Seattle property management company recommendations? [more inside]
posted by kanuck on May 13, 2008 - 1 answer

Help me understand quit claim deeds, why they are so prevalent in this particular heavily-foreclosed-upon Washington state neighborhood I am researching, and some other fishy data I have uncovered. [more inside]
posted by croutonsupafreak on Apr 29, 2008 - 9 answers

Landlords are selling the house we are in and we would like to know what to expect from the coming months. [more inside]
posted by oflinkey on Apr 17, 2008 - 9 answers

Tenants or owners, please rave or rant about recent experiences with property management companies in 1. Boston, MA, or 2. Calgary, AB. [more inside]
posted by cybercoitus interruptus on Apr 15, 2008 - 5 answers

What recourse do I have when I'm stuck between 2 realtors? Way more inside [more inside]
posted by hollygoheavy on Apr 7, 2008 - 17 answers

Complicated, messy NYC roommate/landlord question: 4 roommates share a 3 bedroom converted into 4 (with permission). One roommate signed a lease for a new building without getting permission from current building to transfer name on lease to new roommate. Said old roommate now refuses to pay six months of rent (remainder of lease). Much, much more inside. [more inside]
posted by SeizeTheDay on Mar 28, 2008 - 8 answers

MA filter: Must I have fuse box access if I rent an apartment? [more inside]
posted by pikaboy202 on Feb 17, 2008 - 7 answers

How to handle a landlord forging evidence in small claims court (VT)? [more inside]
posted by doomtop on Feb 13, 2008 - 15 answers

Most reputable property managers in Philadelphia? [more inside]
posted by The Straightener on Feb 13, 2008 - 8 answers

How do I rent my house in San Francisco? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 22, 2008 - 9 answers

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

New York City Landlord Filter: I just began a new job as a manager of some residential buildings in NYC, and I think I'm a bit under qualified for the position. Anything that can help me out with learning the intricate legal requirements as well as general tenant management would be quite helpful. Any ideas?
posted by curiocity on Jan 8, 2008 - 4 answers