Sunday November 8, 2009
A landlord told a young mother in Grand Rapids, Michigan that if she rented a duplex, she would have to pay a double security deposit -- because she had three kids, according to The Grand Rapids Press. What that apartment hunter didn't know at the time was that the landlord was violating federal law.
The Fair Housing Act bans discrimination based on "familial status," which means landlords can't treat you worse than other tenants just because you have one or more children. Landlords can, however, adopt and enforce rules that single out children under certain circumstances.
Here's how to know whether your landlord is unfairly discriminating against children.
(© Neils Timmer / SXC)
Friday November 6, 2009
As an apartment dweller, the last thing you want for your home is a pest problem. When it comes to bedbugs, the mere thought of an infestation can make many tenants' skin crawl.
It's no wonder why bedbugs have a bad reputation -- they're tiny insects that reproduce quickly, feed on blood, and are often very difficult to get rid of once discovered. Unfortunately, from Bryan, Texas to Lakewood, New Jersey, reports of bedbug outbreaks can be found regularly by perusing the news.
If you want to avoid these nasty critters, a free resource may provide some help. An online database known as "The Bedbug Registry" aims to keep track of bedbug infestations so, for instance, you can learn if an apartment building you want to live in has experienced any bedbug problems recently.
Find out more about this useful resource and how it might help you.
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Wednesday November 4, 2009
If you've got a ceiling fan in your apartment, you've no doubt used it to help cool off during warmer months.
But what you might not know is that many ceiling fans (compare prices) are versatile and can also accomplish the opposite goal, helping you keep warm during the winter.
Are you wondering whether your apartment's ceiling fan can do this? Here's how to tell.
(Photo © Rene Cerney / SXC)
Monday November 2, 2009
If you're considering approaching your landlord to negotiate your rent, the results of a recent online survey by the National Association of Independent Landlords may give you added confidence.
More than two-thirds of the 496 independent landlords across the United States who responded to the survey indicated they would be willing to lower rents to help tenants in need.
Among these landlords who are willing to negotiate, the majority (61%) would slash rents up to 5%, a strong minority (29%) would go as far as cutting rent by up to 10%, and the remaining respondents would consider even steeper cuts to retain good tenants who are strapped for cash.
Already, roughly one-third (32%) of these landlords appear to have put their money where their mouth is, claiming to have discounted rent at their buildings at least once in the past 18 months.
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