Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for making sure repairs are performed for a rental unit?

• In every lease, whether it is written or oral, there is an implied warranty of habitability which requires the landlord to ensure that the residential unit is fit with basic necessities such as functioning heat, functioning electricity, plumbing, and various others that can be found in the Breach of Warranty of Habitability checklist. 

I just found out I am living in an illegal unit. What should I do?

• What makes a unit illegal is if it doesn’t meet certain housing, city, or building codes and has not been permitted as a rental unit. If you are told that your unit is illegal, you may be entitled to reimbursement of all rent that has been collected by the landlord. If you discover that your unit is illegal, please contact our office.  

My residential unit is being rented out “as is” is this legal/what does this mean?

• Generally speaking, renting out a unit “as is” means that the landlord and tenant are both acknowledging that the unit will be rented out in the condition it is in at the time of the written/oral lease agreement without any repairs or accommodations made to it. Renting out a unit “as is” maybe  illegal if the landlord rents a unit without basic necessities, such as: heat, effective plumbing, electricity, etc. If you have been told that your unit is “as is” and requires repairs, please contact our office.  

My landlord has gotten very hostile with me/raised rent/telling me I need to move out after I made written complaints regarding repairs needed for my unit, what should I do?

• Generally speaking, if your landlord becomes increasingly hostile or is threatening evictions amongst various other threats within 180 days of notice, the landlord may be acting in retaliation, which is illegal. If you believe you have been retaliated against for  exercising your rights as a tenant, please contact Broderick Brown, Attorney At Law.