Essential Tenant Responsibilities and Rights

ROAD TO RENTING PROGRAM M O N E Y & D E B T M A N AG E M E NT M O N E Y & D E B T M A N AG E M E NT TENANTS RIGHTS TENANTS RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES F I ND ING A H O M E F I ND ING A H O M E

TENANTS RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES Topics include: Topics include: Fair Housing Fair Housing Comfort & Service Animals Comfort & Service Animals Landlord/Tenant Law Landlord/Tenant Law Evictions & Terminations Evictions & Terminations Deposits Deposits Insurance Insurance The goal of this The goal of this section is for learning section is for learning the basic rights of the basic rights of tenants and the tenants and the responsibilities of responsibilities of renting a home. renting a home.

What is the What is the most most important important responsibility responsibility of a tenant? of a tenant? You You must must pay the rent no matter what rent no matter what because you signed a because you signed a legal document, legal document, the lease lease, agreeing that , agreeing that you would pay the rent you would pay the rent every month. every month. pay the the

How clean does How clean does your place have your place have to be? Can the to be? Can the landlord inspect landlord inspect your place and your place and ask you to clean ask you to clean it? it? The landlord can The landlord can do regular do regular inspections. She inspections. She can ask you to can ask you to clean your house clean your house if it s a health if it s a health and safety and safety hazard. hazard.

Which of these can you do in your rental or the property? Which of these can you do in your rental or the property? Paint your bedroom? Paint your bedroom? Change the oil in your car? Change the oil in your car? Have a yard sale? Have a yard sale? Hang heavy pictures on Hang heavy pictures on the walls? the walls? The landlord can limit or prohibit each of these and more!!! The landlord can limit or prohibit each of these and more!!! The LEASE should state all of the things you can/cannot do The LEASE should state all of the things you can/cannot do in the unit. in the unit.

You have insects in your place. You have insects in your place. What do you do and who pays for it? What do you do and who pays for it? If you brought them in, you are responsible If you brought them in, you are responsible for them. for them. The landlord is responsible for making sure the The landlord is responsible for making sure the unit is insect unit is insect- -free when you move in. free when you move in.

Which of these repairs are Which of these repairs are you responsible for? you responsible for? You break it, you buy it. You break it, you buy it. But, get the approval of the But, get the approval of the landlord. landlord. Indoor Football? YESSSS Indoor Football? YESSSS A window breaks due to an A window breaks due to an indoor football game. indoor football game. Glass screen door? Glass screen door? Probably not. Probably not. A bird flies into your glass A bird flies into your glass screen door and cracks it. screen door and cracks it. You trip on the stairs, fall You trip on the stairs, fall against the railing, and against the railing, and break it. break it. Railing? Railing? Maaaybe Maaaybe

What happens if you dont keep the What happens if you don t keep the smoke detector/CO2 detector connected smoke detector/CO2 detector connected and in working order? and in working order? The landlord is responsible for these The landlord is responsible for these being in working order. It is the tenants in working order. It is the tenants responsibility to responsibility to keep keep them in working order. them in working order. being If there is a fire or incident, the tenant can be responsible for damages and can also be levied a fine.

WHICH OF THESE CAN YOUR LANDLORD TELL YOU TO DO? Get renters insurance Get renters insurance Don t put political posters in the window Don t put political posters in the window Park in a certain place Park in a certain place No smoking of ANY kind on the property, No smoking of ANY kind on the property, including medical marijuana including medical marijuana THE LANDLORD CAN DO ALL OF THESE! THE LANDLORD CAN DO ALL OF THESE! Usually, the landlords don t require renter s insurance, but Usually, the landlords don t require renter s insurance, but they recommend it. they recommend it. Landlord has to enforce rules, including smoking with all Landlord has to enforce rules, including smoking with all their tenants. their tenants.

Can a tenant change the Can a tenant change the locks in a unit/house? locks in a unit/house? Does the landlord have to Does the landlord have to have a key? have a key? Only with the landlord s Only with the landlord s permission permission Yes Yes, the landlord must , the landlord must have a key. have a key. In the case of a restraining In the case of a restraining order or sometimes if the order or sometimes if the tenant feels unsafe. tenant feels unsafe. The tenant may have to pay tenant may have to pay. . When does the landlord When does the landlord have to change the have to change the locks of a unit/house? locks of a unit/house? The

WHAT DO YOU DO IF THE LANDLORD DOESNT MAKE REPAIRS? If the landlord doesn t make repairs, go to If the landlord doesn t make repairs, go to https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/ https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/ (click on tenants rights, then repairs ) (click on tenants rights, then repairs ) (Watch a 5 (Watch a 5- -minute video) minute video) No matter what, you No matter what, you must must pay pay your your rent rent. . Page 7: So what do I do if I have a problem landlord?

HOW DO YOU GET YOUR DEPOSIT BACK AFTER YOU MOVE OUT? WHEN DO YOU GET IT BACK AFTER YOU MOVE OUT? The lease will tell you how to get your deposit back. The lease will tell you how to get your deposit back. Your place should be in the same condition as when you Your place should be in the same condition as when you moved in. Try to do a cleaning checklist. moved in. Try to do a cleaning checklist. The landlord has 21 days to return the deposit or tell you The landlord has 21 days to return the deposit or tell you in writing why you are not getting it back. in writing why you are not getting it back. Page 5: Questions and Answers

Does the landlord have Does the landlord have to do a condition to do a condition report/checklist? report/checklist? Can the landlord give it Can the landlord give it to you to fill out and to you to fill out and return? return? What happens if you find What happens if you find something wrong after something wrong after you sign the report? you sign the report? Landlords MUST do a condition Landlords MUST do a condition report/checklist if they charge a deposit. report/checklist if they charge a deposit. The landlord should do the condition report The landlord should do the condition report with you. with you. You have 7 days to make changes to the You have 7 days to make changes to the condition report. condition report. Section 8housing does an inspection! (But it s not the same as the condition report.) Page 5: Questions and Answers

The only thing a The only thing a landlord can do is landlord can do is take you to court take you to court and evict you. and evict you. They cannot take They cannot take your stuff, shut your stuff, shut off your utilities, off your utilities, lock you out, or lock you out, or harass you. harass you. What can a What can a landlord do landlord do and not do if and not do if you don t pay you don t pay your rent? your rent? Page 5: Questions and Answers

If you are temporarily disabled because of an If you are temporarily disabled because of an accident or illness, must the landlord provide accident or illness, must the landlord provide or allow you an accommodation? or allow you an accommodation? (Bars or ramps, special parking place, allow you to move, etc.) (Bars or ramps, special parking place, allow you to move, etc.) The landlord MUST provide reasonable accommodations. The landlord MUST provide reasonable accommodations. You cannot be charged extra fees, deposits, or rent. You cannot be charged extra fees, deposits, or rent. You may have to pay for modifications (bars, ramps, You may have to pay for modifications (bars, ramps, etc.) AND do repairs to return the area to its original etc.) AND do repairs to return the area to its original condition. condition. RULE OF THUMB You are entitled to the same quality of life as others in the building Page 8: Reasonable Accommodations

Which of the following Which of the following can a landlord do? can a landlord do? Charge a deposit or fee Charge a deposit or fee for a comfort/therapy for a comfort/therapy animal. animal. Refuse to let you have an Refuse to let you have an unusual assistance unusual assistance animal like an iguana or a animal like an iguana or a boa constrictor. boa constrictor. Any animal can be a therapy /comfort animal Any animal can be a therapy /comfort animal and the landlord MUST allow that animal and the landlord MUST allow that animal into housing and CANNOT charge any into housing and CANNOT charge any fees or rent. Tenant must have a fees or rent. Tenant must have a verification from a medical professional. verification from a medical professional. ANY animal can be a therapy/comfort animal ANY animal can be a therapy/comfort animal in housing. The medical professional in housing. The medical professional states the kind of animal in the letter of states the kind of animal in the letter of verification. verification. Tenants are responsible for the behavior Tenants are responsible for the behavior and damages done by their animal. and damages done by their animal. Page 9: A Word About Service Animals

Landlords Landlords cannot disabilities pay extra fees or deposits when disabilities pay extra fees or deposits when asking for an asking for an accommodation accommodation This includes This includes assistance animals assistance animals, , emotional support animals support animals and and service animals service animals. Tenants are responsible for the behavior and damages are responsible for the behavior and damages done by their animal. done by their animal. Landlords can can ask that tenants with disabilities ask that tenants with disabilities pay for pay for modifications modifications to the structure. cannot require that tenants with require that tenants with emotional . Tenants Landlords to the structure. Accommodation vs. Modification

Fair Housing Act Fair Housing Act This law covers people with disabilities in housing. Americans with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Disabilities Act (ADA) This law covers people with disabilities who are out in places with the general public.

Fair Housing is the right of all people to be free from discrimination in their housing. Discrimination Discrimination is treating someone differently because they belong to a protected class of people.

WHAT ARE THE PROTECTED CLASSES OF PEOPLE? All fair housing laws protect people based on: Sex Sex Color Color Disability Disability Race Race National Origin National Origin Religion/Creed Religion/Creed Family Status Family Status Washington State has additional protected classes, even more so for specific counties. Page 10: Fair Housing

CRIMINALHISTORY People with criminal histories are not not in a protected in a protected People with criminal histories are class. Therefore, class. Therefore, they can be refused housing they can be refused housing. . However However, landlords need to consider the , landlords need to consider the seriousness seriousness of the criminal activity. of the criminal activity. There are factors that a landlord should take into There are factors that a landlord should take into account! account! Landlords often charge twice the deposit or more to people with criminal histories. Page 11: Criminal History

Once the landlord has filed the eviction papers in court, the lawsuit has begun. Tenants will have a court record that shows that an unlawful detainer action was filed against them in court. Tenants MUST answer the summons and go to court; good idea to get a lawyer. Page 12-13-14: Evictions

SO YOU THINK YOU NEED A LAWYER Remember these things when contacting your lawyer! Remember these things when contacting your lawyer! First, take ALL ALL the the emotions emotions out of the situation. FACTS ONLY FACTS ONLY Write all the facts down Write all the facts down Gather information Gather information EVERYTHING needs a date EVERYTHING needs a date First, take out of the situation. Page 15: Calling a Lawyer

Different companies, different coverage Personal Property Protection Personal Property Protection Reimbursed Living Expenses Reimbursed Living Expenses Liability Protection Liability Protection Guest Medical Protection Guest Medical Protection Page 16: Renter s Insurance

The landlords property is not The landlord s property is not covered by your insurance. covered by your insurance. You You are responsible for damages to that you are responsible for damages to your you cause. your rental rental that cause. Questions to ask when getting Renter s Insurance Questions to ask when getting Renter s Insurance pg pg 16 16

QUESTIONS? ROAD TO RENTING PROGRAM