There are some important things to remember when renting a property. Many landlords put illegal provisions into their contracts. It is illegal to include provisions that waive the tenets rights under the landlord tenet act, to include provisions that force tenets to pay the landlord’s attorney fees, to seize their property, or to enter the rental property without proper notice. Specifically, the landlord must provide two days notice to a tenet before entering the rental property and cannot abuse the privilege to harass a tenet.

Tenets have a right to defend themselves in court that cannot be waived by a contract. Tenets cannot be locked out of apartments even if they are behind on rent, likewise they cannot shut off utilities for the same reason. Landlords cannot retaliate for legal actions against them. Landlords have a responsibility to provide numerous benefits to tenets, and if they fail to provide these things tenets can sue. These things include locks on doors, garbage cans, and keep the property free of pests such as termites and rats. The must keep the property weather-tight and maintain equipment and facilities so that they are of similar repair as when the tenet moved in. If you feel any of your rights have been violated, consult your leasing contract and an attorney. You may also wish to contact other tenets who believe their rights have been violated. A lawsuit might be more substantial with additional plaintiffs, and it allows additional financial resources to be brought to bear in financial the case.