Tenants Rights & Obligations
If you reside on a piece of property that you do not have legal title rights to and pay steady rent to a person or entity in order to continue to reside there, chances are, you are a tenant. Despite that you do not carry any legal ownership rights to the property, there are certain rights and obligations that you have as a tenant. Such rights and obligations are outlined below.
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Peace and Enjoyment
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The tenant has various rights with respect to the property that he leases. One such right is that the tenant is entitled to the peace and enjoyment of the property. Specifically, the tenant is free to reside upon the property without unwarranted intrusion by the landlord. A landlord can enter the property only if the tenant has been notified in advance and has agreed on a specified time. Landlords do not have the right to enter in an unreasonable manner or remain on the premises any longer than necessary. Landlord entry also requires a tenant's express permission unless an emergency arises.
Reimbursement for Repairs
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Next, the tenant is entitled to reimbursement for reasonable repairs that the tenant carries out on the property if such repairs are the landlord's responsibility to take care of. For example, if the tenant's water pipes burst and the lease agreement says that this is a repair that is covered by the landlord, yet in an emergency, the tenant foots the bill, then the tenant would be entitled to reimbursement under the circumstances.
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Notice
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A tenant is also entitled to the name, address and point of contact for the landlord in the event that any issues arise. This information is usually included in the lease agreement. Lastly, the tenant is entitled to reasonable notice as to the time that the landlord expects the tenant to vacate the premises. This, too, is often contemplated in the lease agreement.
Tenant's Obligations
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A tenant must pay the rent as agreed upon in the lease agreement and take proper care to maintain the property in a reasonable fashion. Additionally, the tenant is typically responsible for paying the gas bills, electric bills, telephone bills and oftentimes the water and sewage charges on the property during tenancy.
Next, the tenant must allow the landlord access to the property for routine maintenance, repairs and inspection, keeping the landlord informed as to who is residing upon the property at all times.
The tenant is usually responsible to the landlord for any damages to the property that are not a result of normal wear and tear. The tenant cannot do anything upon the property that can result in depreciation in value to the property. The tenant also cannot do anything that constitutes annoyance, nuisance or damage to neighbors' property.
Conclusion
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In conclusion, although a tenant does not carry legal title to the property he leases, he has many rights that must be respected by the landlord. On the other hand, the tenant is obligated to abide by all provisions of the lease agreement and cannot unreasonably harm the property or neighboring property.
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