Renters have many legal rights--learn yours and how to protect them! The only book of its kind, Every Tenant's Legal Guide gives you the legal and practical information you need (plus dozens of sample letters and forms) to find and keep a great home and landlord. Learn your rights--whether it comes to pets, guests, deposits, or privacy--including how to: get your landlord to make repairs by using rent withholding or repair-and-deduct avoid disputes with roommates over rent, deposits, guests, and noise fight illegal discrimination, retaliation, or sexual harassment deal with hazards like lead paint, mold, or bedbugs break a lease with minimum liability, and get your security deposit returned on time. This 9th edition of Every Tenant's Legal Guide includes the latest laws of your state--from security deposit rules to termination notice requirements. The book also includes expanded sections on tenant rights regarding sublets (including through Airbnb-type services), using marijuana in the rental, and self advertising (how social media can help landlords find you).

Author Biography

Nolo's Executive Editor, Janet Portman oversees editorial work on all Nolo books, articles, and websites. She specializes in residential and commercial landlord/tenant law, legal issues related to courts, and criminal law. She is the author or a coauthor of Every Landlord's Legal Guide, Every Landlord's Guide to Finding Great Tenants, First-Time Landlord: Your Guide to Renting Out a Single-Family Home, Every Tenant's Legal Guide, Renters' Rights, Leases & Rental Agreements, The California Landlord's Law Book: Rights and Responsibilities, and California Tenants' Rights. Portman received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and a law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law. Before joining Nolo in 1994, she practiced law as a public defender. Marcia Stewart writes and edits for Nolo on landlord-tenant law, real estate, and other consumer issues. She is the coauthor of Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home, Every Landlord's Legal Guide, Every Landlord's Guide to Finding Great Tenants, First-Time Landlord, Every Tenant's Legal Guide, Leases and Rental Agreements, Renters' Rights, and The Legal Answer Book for Families.