Are you looking to make
sure that you, as a tenant, are protected? Are you being harassed by your
landlord? Here are ten ways you can protect yourself from landlord issues and
tenant evictions.
1.
Never
pay your landlord for rent or anything else using cash! Always
make your rent payments using a cashier’s check or money order, and always make
sure to get your receipt. If you pay with a personal check, always keep copies
of your canceled checks and bank statements that show that the checks cleared.
If you send in your payment by mail, make sure to mail your payment from the US
post office, using Delivery Confirmation. If for any reason your landlord
decides to return your rental payment to you, don't cash it. This will act as
your proof that you did attempt to pay your rent.
2.
Check
to see if your home is protected by rent control laws.
Contact your county housing department to find out for sure. For Los Angeles County, you can obtain a free
copy of the official Landlord Tenant Handbook
online or at the Los Angeles Housing Department
office. West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills all have their own
rules and regulations for rent stabilization.
3.
Always
make a notation on your money order, cashier's check or personal check stating
exactly what it is for, specifically the month the payment includes.
Example, if paying for “Rent for October, 2012”, “Rent for 818 Wilshire for
September 2012”, etc... Be sure to keep the attached receipt from the money
order or cashier's check for your records. This proof will help you later, if
for any reason, your landlord attempts to evict you claiming that you have
unpaid rent. You will have proof of all payments that you have made and when
you made them.
4.
Do
not stop paying your rent. Make sure that the conditions in
your apartment are up to standards. You can contact the Housing Department at www.lacity.org/lahd/
or through the agency in your area. You can also check out the links to other
cities here
under “government.”
5.
Be
sure to comply with any and all notices that your landlord gives you, and
within the allowed time frame. Even if you end up
having to pay something that you don't agree with, just go ahead and pay it
anyway. Then, seek advice to file a small claims suit against your landlord to
get any money owed refunded.
6.
Document
and record any and all events related to your rental home on your calendar. On
each date use small phrases like, “paid rent”, “requested that landlord make
repairs”, etc...
7.
Make
sure all agreements you make with your landlord are put in writing. A
verbal agreement has no worth whatsoever in court. Putting things in writing is
proof of any agreement that you may have between you and your landlord.
8.
Don't
sign anything that you are asked to sign by your landlord unless
a) you have a clear understanding of what it means, b) are given your own copy
to read over and give to your lawyer to read later, and c) are given your own
copy for your personal records before you have to sign it.
9.
Organize
a tenants group! If you know that other tenants in your
complex are experiencing the same issues with your property or the landlord,
work together to help each other get results.
10. Remember that the property management company
or your building manager works directly for your landlord, not you. He/she
is paid by the landlord. The property manager won't be of any help when it
comes to protecting you from any proceedings related to an eviction.
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