So imagine the air conditioning in your home stops working in the middle of July, and your landlord conveniently stopped responding to your emails and phone calls. So, at this point, drinking cold drinks and attempting to fan yourself to sleep isn’t going to cut it, and you can’t help but wonder when my landlord must fix the issue.

Well, you’re in luck because your renter rights state that your landlord should have made arrangements to fix the repairs as soon as the issue occurred. Or at least as soon as you’ve reported it. As a tenant, many rights work in your favor to ensure you have a happy, healthy home. We will go over a few of the basic rights a renter can expect.

Fair Housing Act

You have rights even before signing your rental agreement. The Fair Housing Act states that a landlord cannot refuse housing to an individual based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Even though they have the final say in the agreement, you are encouraged to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Disabled Tenants

For tenants with special needs, you have every right to change your apartment, such as ramps or bathroom grab bars. This is called “reasonable accommodations” and should be made by the landlord. However, you may have to pay for or remove the changes before moving out. Keep in mind that a landlord may not agree to certain changes that are very expensive or deemed unreasonable.

Clean Livable Conditions

Basic plumbing, electricity, and heat are necessary for a space to be habitable. Beyond these needs, it may vary by state on how long a landlord must provide them and what tenants can do if their needs are unmet. The length of the repair usually depends on the issue. If, for example, the property’s condition makes you concerned for your health, you can leave the property and argue for an eviction. However, if the problems pertain to heating or plumbing, the landlords must fix them within 24 hours. For minor repairs, landlords have 48 hours.

Security Deposits

Landlords collect a security deposit to gain peace of mind and leverage to handle certain problems with renters. Different states have guidelines regarding how much a landlord can ask for in a security deposit.

If you rent a fully furnished apartment, your landlord may ask you for three months’ rent, whereas for unfurnished apartments, they may only ask you for one or two months’ rent. As a standard rule, all security deposits must be refundable, so depending on how well you take care of your rental or any other contractual issues, you may or may not see that money again.

Notice of evictions

Perhaps your time at this rental is up, and your landlord wants to discontinue your tenancy. Depending on how long you’ve resided at the property, the landlord may give you a 30-60-day notice period to vacate. However, you have three days to vacate if you are being evicted.

Privacy

As a tenant, you don’t own your home, but you are still entitled to privacy from your landlord. They would not be allowed to enter your rental property without a written notice unless there is an emergency or you’ve decided to flee the unit. If your landlord needs to enter your home to inspect and make repairs, they should give you 24 to 48 hours of notice.

Knowing your rights as a renter is always important to establish what you should do in any situation with your landlord.

Buckeye Northwest Realty provides houses for rent in Toledo, Ohio, and the surrounding areas. To learn more about houses for rent, contact us today!