If you're renting an apartment or home, it's important to know that you have several rights under the law. Your landlord owes you certain responsibilities in exchange for you paying rent every month. If a landlord tries to include the following in a contract or pressures you into overlooking these violations of the law, you may want to get help from a tenant lawyer.

Giving You Notice Before Entering

Even though they own the property, your landlord cannot enter your home anytime they want. They must give you a certain amount of notice, usually at least 24 hours under state law. The only exception is if there is a gas leak, fire, or other hazard that constitutes a serious emergency. Whether your landlord wants to show the property to future renters or perform an inspection, they must give you advanced notice before they enter, or else your tenants' rights are being violated. If this has happened to you, you may want to ask a tenant law professional about your legal options.

Failing to Make Repairs

Your landlord has an obligation to make sure the property you pay rent for is habitable at all times. This means that if there's any problem with the gas, electricity, water, or another essential amenity, your landlord must make timely repairs. If your landlord neglects this duty, they might run into legal trouble. It's also their responsibility to address bed bugs and other pest infestations that would make a property uninhabitable.

If your landlord is not making essential repairs, you may want to talk to an attorney before you go out and hire a handyman yourself because this action might violate the terms of your contract. It's best to get a lawyer's advice about what steps to take next if your landlord is leaving you without essential heat or running water.

Raising Your Rent for No Reason

Your landlord is allowed to raise the rent under circumstances. This typically occurs at the end of your rental contract; during the negotiation of a new agreement, a property owner may raise the monthly rent amount by a certain percentage to account for inflation. It's also common for landlords to legally raise the rent if you have a pet.

If your landlord wants to raise the rent in the middle of a contract for seemingly no reason, then you may have grounds to file a legal claim against them. This could be especially problematic if the rent hike is due to discrimination based on your marital status, financial status, disability, ethnicity, or similar factors. If you have questions about whether your tenants' rights are being violated, an attorney can offer assistance.