Landlord-tenant disputes may arise for various reasons, including unpaid rent, property damage, and disagreement over lease terms.
All parties involved should understand their rights and work together towards finding ways tо quickly and amicably resolve their differences.
A tenant landlord lawyer can offer expert legal advice and guidanc e during tenant-landlord disputes. Here, learn the most frequent causes and methods оf resolution.
Nonpayment of Rent/Late Rent Payments
At times, finances may become challenging; if this is your situation, make an effort to communicate with your landlord regarding a payment plan or payment arrangement. If paying rent has become an issue for you, don’t ignore this situation, take steps now or be subject to eviction proceedings and credit damage! If having difficulty, contact them immediately as this could damage both the history and credit rating.
Landlords have the right to enter rental properties for inspection and repairs, provided they give reasonable notice beforehand. If your landlord appears to be violating your privacy rights, Canada’s PIPEDA law protects these rights while prohibiting him or her from sharing your personal data with third parties.
Tenants must maintain the rental property they occupy and notify landlords promptly of any maintenance issues that arise, reporting any repairs that need to be done promptly. If necessary repairs cannot be made, withholding rent until this issue has been addressed may be possible. Some jurisdictions offer rent control or rent stabilization programs which restrict how much landlords can charge tenants; tenants can take advantage of such programs by submitting an application with the relevant authority.
Breaking the Lease
Tenants who wish to break their lease early often face disputes with their landlords. One way of preventing this conflict is reviewing your termination clause and understanding any notice periods required before breaking a rental contract early. Furthermore, check whether or not your landlord allows for assignment or subletting as these methods allow tenants to transfer tenancy in various forms.
Landlords should only attempt to evict their tenants under compelling grounds, such as nonpayment of rent or damage to the property. Before initiating this action, however, landlords must follow all necessary processes and obtain an official court order from a judge in accordance with the law.
If your landlord breaks any terms of the lease agreement, filing a complaint with the Residential Tenancy Branch to seek compensation can help alleviate any inconvenience or financial losses you’ve incurred as a result. A landlord-tenant law attorney can assist in understanding your rights and aiding with seeking damages.
Maintenance Issues
Maintenance and repairs on property owned by tenants should fall to their landlord, including appliances like fridges or stoves that come with their homes. Tenants should be aware that if repairs are delayed they may also bear part of the costs involved with them.
Tenants should ensure they communicate in writing with their landlords about maintenance issues and keep a record of these discussions. Furthermore, tenants should understand what constitutes an emergency repair request while giving the landlord ample time to respond.
If an issue cannot be quickly resolved, tenants can reach out to their city or town council, or apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for dispute resolution. If they believe their landlord is trying to recover more than they should be charged back for, tenants should seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Retaliation
Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants who exercise their legal rights, for instance by filing complaints to city hall or government agencies regarding living conditions within an apartment building. Furthermore, it’s illegal for landlords to punish tenants who join tenant associations.
A landlord should only enter a tenant’s apartment with reasonable prior notice and at an agreed-upon time in order to carry out routine or agreed upon repairs, or as per their lease. A landlord cannot interfere with receiving cable television (Public Service Law SS 258).
Non-rent regulated renters without leases have the right to remain in their apartments after the expiration of their lease, provided their landlord gives appropriate notice. Tenants who are wrongfully evicted can file civil actions for triple damages against their landlord; landlords can raise the rent on month-to-month tenants provided they provide proper notice.