{"id":16917,"date":"2023-02-17T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=16917"},"modified":"2023-07-22T11:36:23","modified_gmt":"2023-07-22T15:36:23","slug":"illegal-rental-lease-terms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/illegal-rental-lease-terms\/","title":{"rendered":"Illegal Rental Lease Terms"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

There are many rules and regulations landlords have to follow when it comes to drafting a lease. Landlords are responsible for providing safe, habitable housing. However, many landlords try to distance themselves from their rules and responsibilities. Many renters don\u2019t know what their rights are, and are willing to sign just about any lease. The following includes the most common illegal rental terms that tenants should watch out for.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Illegal Rental Lease Terms<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A Lease Cannot Waive a Resident\u2019s Right to Sublet<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

One of the most common rules landlords try to get around is subletting. However, New York law says that tenants have a right to request a sublet in buildings that hold more than four units, and a landlord cannot make an unreasonable refusal. Tenants need to mail landlords a list of information<\/a> 30 days before the sublet would begin. The landlord can ask for additional information as long as it isn\u2019t burdensome to obtain. Once a landlord has the required info, they must allow the subletting to occur without collecting extra money from said subletter (Though the prime tenant can charge an additional 10%). The only way a landlord can refuse a tenant is if they have a reasonable excuse to not let one in. If a landlord doesn\u2019t respond to a sublet request, it becomes an automatic consent.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A Lease Cannot Grant a Landlord Permission to Enter a Home at Any Time<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Landlords <\/a>can enter an apartment without notice only in an emergency. Otherwise, a landlord must notify residents that they are entering a home before making repairs, to show the home to potential tenants, or for any other reason listed in the lease. Landlords cannot\u00a0 enter homes unannounced for these, or any other superfluous reasons.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A Lease Cannot Exempt Landlords From Making Necessary Repairs<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It\u2019s a landlord\u2019s job to ensure apartments are habitable and safe. This means there always needs to be working heat, running water, and functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Some landlords attempt to exempt themselves from making these necessary repairs should something break. However, not only do they have to make these repairs to a home, they have to pay for said repairs<\/a> as well. It\u2019s never a resident\u2019s responsibility<\/a> to fix necessary equipment that keeps their home habitable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A Lease Cannot Force a Rent Increase or Fees For Repairs Made<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In the same vein as the landlord repair law, landlords aren\u2019t allowed to raise rents due to a repair made to a home<\/a>. Landlords must pay for necessary repairs to keep apartments habitable. Rent can only be increased by the rates agreed upon in the lease, and landlords have to notify residents a month before a rent increase will occur, typically at the end of a lease. Otherwise, rent increases are illegal and cannot be enforced by the landlord.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A Lease Cannot Waive a Tenants Right to a Jury Trial<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Many landlords will try to add a clause in their lease saying that a tenants right to sue is waived upon signing. This is not only illegal, it\u2019s ridiculous. That would mean landlords could harass tenants, ignore essential repairs, and even avoid liability for a tenants injuries due to negligence. If a landlord is responsible for personal injury or property damage, they can always be held<\/a> liable regardless of what a lease might say. Again, they are entirely responsible for keeping homes safe and livable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A Lease Cannot Force Residents to Put Personal Property Up as Collateral<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Landlords want to ensure they make money from monthly rentals, which is why some will try to force residents into putting up personal possessions and furniture as collateral. This is, essentially, theft and is completely illegal<\/a>. If a tenant hasn\u2019t been paying rent, a landlord can legally evict them as long as they follow the proper protocols. However, taking the property of a tenant means the landlord can be held liable and can even face criminal charges. Still, getting evicted is usually worse than getting property taken away, so it\u2019s good for tenants to ensure rent can be paid on time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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