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Tables of Contents for Renters'' Rights
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
Introduction
Play the Landlord's Game and Win
Legal and Illegal Reasons for Turning You Down
3
4
Your Credit Report Can Make or Break Your Application
7
6
References Are All-Important
13
3
Smart Moves: How to Find a Good Place
16
2
How to Impress Prospective Landlords
18
Leases and Rental Agreements
How Written Leases and Rental Agreements Differ
3
4
Who Should Sign a Lease or Rental Agreement
7
2
Typical Provisions in Leases and Rental Agreements
9
7
Negotiating With the Landlord
16
8
Common Negotiation Issues
24
6
Signing a Lease or Rental Agreement
30
1
Get it in Writing: A Letter of Understanding
30
Rent Rules
Rent Gouging: Isn't There a Law Against it?
2
1
The Nitty-Gritty on Where and How to Pay Rent
3
2
Mable, Isn't There a Grace Period?
5
1
What To Do---And Not to do---If You Can't Pay Rent on Time
6
2
Late Rent Fees
8
2
Tenancy Terminations for Nonpayment of Rent
10
1
Rent Increases
11
3
The Landlord's Right to Change Other Rent Terms
14
Security Deposits
Dollar Limits on Security Deposits
3
1
How Landlords May Increase Deposits
4
1
Where does the Money Go?
4
1
Last Month's Rent
5
1
Nonrefundable Deposits and Fees
6
1
Are You Entitled to Interest on Your Deposit?
7
1
How Your Landlord's Bankruptcy or Property Sale Affects your Deposit
8
Discrimination
Discrimination Prohibited by Federal Laws
3
7
Kinds of Discrimination Prohibited by State and Local Law
10
1
How to Fight Back
11
Roommates
Renting a Place with Others
4
7
When a Roommate Walks Out
11
2
Adding a New Roommate
13
2
Taking in a Roomer
15
Repairs and Maintenance
Your Right to a Livable Place
3
7
Your Repair and Maintenance Responsibilities
10
2
Persuading Your Landlord to do Major Repairs
12
2
Using Heavy Artillery for Major Repairs
14
10
Laying the Minor Repair Job on the Landlord
24
3
Getting the Landlord to Make Minor Repair
27
Tenants' Rights to Privacy
Entry by the Landlord
4
5
Entry by Others
9
1
Limits on Your Guests
10
2
How to Get Your Landlord to Back Off
12
How Tenancies Change and End
Changing Your Tenancy Without Ending It
3
4
How Month-to-Month Tenancies End
7
5
What Happens When Your Lease Runs Out
12
1
Breaking a Lease and Leaving Early
13
Getting Your Deposit Back
How Your Landlord May Use Your Deposit
2
2
The Mechanics of Getting the Deposit Back
4
2
Avoiding Fights Over Deposits
6
2
Suing to Get the Deposit Back
8
Landlord Retaliation
Where Does the Law Protect You?
3
2
What is Retaliation?
5
1
Responding to Retaliation
5
3
Proving That it's Retaliation
8
Rent Control
Property Subject to Rent Control
4
1
Limits on Rent
5
1
Evictions in Rent Control Areas
6
2
Interest Payments on Security Deposits
8
1
Special Notice Requirements
8
1
Bypassing the Rent Control Ordinance
9
Getting Help with Your Dispute
How to Negotiate a Settlement
2
2
Using a Mediator
4
3
Small Claims Court
7
APPENDIX 1 HOW TO FIND YOUR STATE STATUTES ONLINE
APPENDIX 2 STATE LAWS AND AGENCIES
Landlord-Tenant Statutes
2
2
State Rent Rules
4
4
Notice Required to Change or Terminate a Month-to-Month Tenancy
8
2
State Security Deposit Laws
10
4
State Fair Housing Agencies
14
4
State Consumer Protection Offices
18
5
State Laws on Rent Withholding and Repair-and-Deduct Remedies
23
2
State Laws on Landlord's Access to Rental Property
25
2
State Laws Prohibiting Landlord Retaliation
27
3
Selected Rent Control Ordinances
30