Updated Articles and Resources

By Ron Leshnower, About.com Guide

Find an Apartment - ApartmentGuide.com - Profile of ApartmentGuide.com Created: Thursday, May 24, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
Information about ApartmentGuide.com, an apartment-search Web site.
Find an Apartment - 4walls.us - Profile of 4walls.us Created: Thursday, May 24, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
Information about 4walls.us, an apartment-search Web site.
Readers Respond - Dealing With Difficult Neighbors Created: Thursday, May 20, 2010 Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012
Readers tell their story about how they dealt with a difficult neighbor, resolved disputes, and what they might do differently next time.
Playground Safety - Protect Children from Playground Burns on Hot Days Created: Saturday, May 02, 2009 Updated: Monday, May 14, 2012
Playground equipment can heat up quickly and retain the heat easily, causing serious burns to skin upon contact. Follow these precautions to prevent playground burns on hot, sunny days.
Readers Respond - Breaking Your Lease Created: Friday, May 21, 2010 Updated: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Readers tell their story about how they broke (or tried to break) their apartment lease, whether they had to pay any penalties, and what they might do differently next time.
State Fair Housing Laws - Does Your State Have Any Additional Protected Classes Created: Saturday, January 15, 2011 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Many states have their own fair housing law that goes beyond the Fair Housing Act, offering protection to a wide range of people who wouldn't have a claim under federal law.
Religious Differences - Compromise With Your Roommate on Holiday Decorations Created: Monday, November 22, 2010 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
If you find yourself living with a roommate who disagrees with you when it comes to decorating your apartment for the holidays, there's no reason your religious differences should prevent you from ...
Apartment Hunting With Children - Don't Let Your Landlord Tell You Where Your Kids Should Sleep Created: Monday, July 26, 2010 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
As long as your bedroom-sharing plans don't violate occupancy requirements, your landlord should have no right to tell you that your children can't share a room with you -- or each other.
Zero-Cost Ways to Cool Your Apartment and Lower Your Electricity Bill Created: Monday, July 12, 2010 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
If your apartment becomes uncomfortable or unbearable when it gets hot outside, there are certain things you can do to help maintain a pleasant environment in your home with no cost to you.
Pay Rent in Cash - Avoid Pitfalls When Paying Rent in Cash Created: Friday, May 07, 2010 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Whenever you pay your rent in cash, be sure to protect yourself by taking certain precautions.
How to Deal With a Roommate Who's Neater Than You Created: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
If your roommate thinks you're messy and wants you to change, there may be ways to work around your differences.
How to Decide Between One and Two Bathrooms for Your Apartment Created: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Apartments with two bathrooms offer many benefits, but they also mean more rent. Here's how to decide if a two-bathroom apartment is worth the added expense for you.
Apartment Hunting - Find an Apartment - How to Decide Which Apartment Floor Is Best for You Created: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
There's no right or wrong answer when it comes to which floor is best in an apartment building. You must weigh the factors and decide what's important to you as you go looking for the perfect apart...
What You Need to Know About Making Reasonable Accommodation Requests Created: Thursday, December 10, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Federal anti-discrimination laws require landlords to grant tenants and prospective tenants reasonable accommodations if needed for a disability. If you're considering asking for an accommodation, ...
Apartment Advice - Get Free or Low-Cost Rental Advice from a Housing Counselor Created: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
HUD sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country that provide information and tips for renters. Thanks to this initiative, free or low-cost rental housing advice is just a phone call...
Fair Housing - Familial Status Discrimination - Singling Out Children Created: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Given the law's protection for families with children, you might wonder why so many landlords appear to get away with adopting and enforcing rules that single out children.
Landlord Results - Get Results When You Need Something From Your Landlord Created: Monday, December 29, 2008 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
If you find yourself needing your landlord's attention, the last thing you want is to wait weeks for a response.
Fair Housing - Disability Discrimination Ban May Protect You -- Even Without a Disability Created: Thursday, December 11, 2008 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Apartment dwellers who used to have disabilities and even some who never had a disability may be protected by the federal ban on disability discrimination.
Drugs and Alcohol - Apartment Hunting With a Drug or Alcohol Addiction Created: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
If you're an alcoholic or have a drug addiction, you may be concerned that this will cause you problems in your apartment search. Here's what you need to know about how the law protects you.
Fair Housing - Disability - Know Your Rights if You Have a Disability Created: Sunday, December 07, 2008 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Read a handy summary of what a landlord must and mustn't do when it comes to dealing with prospects or tenants who have a disability.
Fair Housing - Disability - Fair Housing Act Disability Definition Created: Sunday, December 07, 2008 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
What Kind of Disability Is Protected Against Discrimination?
Break an Apartment Lease - How to Break an Apartment Lease Created: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
People often have valid reasons for breaching a contract, and you may have a good excuse for wanting to get out of your lease. If you must break your lease, the key is to avoid -- or at least limit...
Apartment Hunting - How to Decide Between Renting a Studio or a One-Bedroom Apartment Created: Monday, October 05, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Here's how to decide whether a studio or a one-bedroom apartment is the best solution for you.
Apartment Foreclosure - Your Right to Remain a Tenant if Your Apartment Building Goes Into Foreclosure Created: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
If your landlord can't pay the mortgage and your apartment building goes into foreclosure, a federal law ensures that you won't be on the street tomorrow.
What You Must Pay Before You Sign a Lease Created: Thursday, August 20, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Here's a description of the payment items you might expect to encounter even before you sign a lease for a rental.
What You Must Pay When You Sign Your Lease Created: Thursday, August 20, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Here's a description of the items you might expect at or around the time you sign the lease for your rental.
What You Must Pay During Your Lease Term Created: Thursday, August 20, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
You'll have many bills, large and small, to pay in order to keep using and enjoying your rental each month as an apartment dweller.
How Much Money Do You Need to Rent an Apartment? Created: Thursday, August 20, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Here's an overview of the items apartment dwellers typically pay, organized by when each item needs to be paid.
Apartment Hunting With Pets - Mention Pet at Start of Apartment Search Created: Sunday, May 24, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
To find an apartment for you and your pet, be sure to mention your pet at the start of your apartment search. Take two steps to help you streamline your search for the right apartment for you and y...
Sample Letters of Employment - How to Write a Letter of Employment - Letter of Employment Samples Created: Saturday, March 14, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
More landlords are getting smart about cracking down on this type of fraud by taking the simple step of asking tenants to verify the employment information they include in their rental application....
Avoid Steering - Avoid Illegal Steering When Looking for an Apartment Created: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Some landlords practice a form of discrimination known as steering, which refers to when a landlord tries to limit a renter's housing choices by guiding or encouraging the person to look elsewhere,...
Lease and Rental Agreement - Decide Between a Fixed-Term Lease and a Month-to-Month Rental Agreement Created: Sunday, February 01, 2009 Updated: Saturday, April 28, 2012
The type of rental arrangement you choose is a key component to consider when looking for an apartment.

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