Do you rent? Better know your rights. Here’s a state-by-state guide with links to statutes for both landlords and tenants. If you want to negotiate down your rent, get a drippy ceiling fixed, fight an eviction, or squelch a noisy neighbor, first bone up on your renter law. [More]
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Landlord Says He Never Got My Rent, Can I Get My Money Order Back?
By 11.3.10
Marty sent his rent in by money order and the landlord says he never got it. Marty is trying to get his money from the money order back, but is finding out that it’s not the same thing as a check. [More]
Poll: Most Americans Concerned About Ability To Pay Mortgage Or Rent
By 10.27.10
The recession may be over, but according to a new poll by the Washington Post, not only are most Americans concerned about having enough money to pay their rent or mortgage, but that number has continued to increase over the last two years. [More]
Woman And Her 30,000 Lbs Of Stuff Get Evicted
By 9.24.10
30,000 pounds of belongings stretched up and down the DC sidewalk. They all belonged to one woman who was evicted after she couldn’t make rent. [More]
Won't Pay Up Rent? I'll Spraypaint "Deadbeat" On Your Garage
By 8.6.10
Sick of her renters not paying any rent, a Charlotte landlord spraypainted “DEADBEAT TENANTS” on the garage. [More]
Barter, Slum It, Go Rustic To Save On Living Costs
By 7.6.10
There is more than one way to skin a lease. Not only can you negotiate to bring costs down, but there are other ways to slash your rent budget. Well-Heeled Blog digs up a few that might not have occurred to you. [More]
Calculator Tells You Whether to Rent Or Buy
By 4.24.10
The New York Times has a soul-soothing calculator that lets you know whether you’d be better off renting or buying. [More]
Want Free Housing? Become A Traveling Caretaker
By 7.22.09
Cool Tools describes the Caretaker Gazette as “house-sitting classifieds.” The tipster writes, “I’ve used [it] to live rent-free for the past three years […] living as a caretaker in California and Idaho. In exchange for my accommodations, my duties have included keeping trespassers off the property, taking messages, mowing the lawn, cleaning the pool and generally watching over the home when the owners are away.” An online subscription costs $30 a year, and includes a PDF issue every two months, plus listings online and a weekly email update.
Landlords Drop Demands For Murdered Woman To Pay Back Rent
By 2.6.09
The landlords that sent a demand for unpaid rent and citing “insufficient notice to vacate” to the estate of a mother who was murdered in a Christmas kill-spree say they will not go after the rest of the rent after all. They say the request for payment was just the management company’s standard procedure and they didn’t know the woman was a murder-victim.
Landlord Orders Ex-Husband To Pay Murdered Wife's Rent
By 2.5.09
The ex-husband of a woman who was murdered at a Christmas party along with 8 other people has been ordered by her landlord to pay her rent. The landlord says she gave insufficient notice to vacate the premises, and broke her lease. Apparently they require 60 days notice before being shot dead by your sister’s ex-husband in a Santa suit.
How "Serial Evictees" Game A System Meant To Protect Renters From Abuse
By 8.14.08
There’s nothing we dislike more than people who scam a system put in place to protect vulnerable consumers from abuse, but the sad fact is that they do exist. SF Weekly has an article that tracks the exploits of a serial evictee, a “renter” who leases apartments with no intention of paying rent, and then games the system in order to stay rent free for as long as possible.
By 12.8.07
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Credit cards and banks are starting to let people charge their rent or mortgage on your credit card. Great for earning rewards points or frequent flyer miles, but it’s only a good idea if you can pay off your credit card in full every month. [NYT]
Landlord-Tenant Law For Every State
By 12.4.07
Here’s a big list with links to landlord-tenant statutes by state. Know your rights. Good for renters to bookmark in case you’re ever in a dispute with your landlord, or just because you’re a smart person who likes to have useful information relevant to your life on hand.
A Family Of 4 Needs To Make $77,069 A Year To Get By In San Francisco?
By 10.17.07
According to a new study cited by the San Francisco Chronicle, a family of 4 needs to make $77,069 in order to “get by” in San Francisco.
Reduce Your Rent By Installing Cardboard Prostitutes
By 1.9.07
We love cardboard, hookers, and low rent, so we flipped tits over toes for this DIY lifehack: reduce rents in your neighborhood by installing a bunch of cardboard cutouts of prostitutes. — BEN POPKEN
HOW TO: Move To New York City Sane And Not Broke
By 1.6.07
How do you move to New York City and stay sane and not be broke? [More]
Consumerist Ask Metafilter Round-Up
By 8.24.06
• My father is in his upper 50’s and his wife is in her early 50’s. They don’t have health insurance, but they do have a “health cost sharing plan.” I think it’s hooey. But they think it’s great. I’m worried they are going to get sick and be in alot of trouble without some real health insurance. [Link]
