Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Cranston

Find the right Tenant attorney in Cranston, RI

Tenant Law in Rhode Island

In Cranston, Rhode Island, relationships between tenants and landlords can occasionally become strained.

Tenants and landlords have various legal rights and responsibilities. In general, these rights don't conflict with one another, as long as both parties are clear about what they are, and act accordingly.

Landlord's Rights in Cranston, RI

The most basic right that landlords have is the right to be paid the agreed-upon rent by their tenant. Obviously, renting apartments is how landlords earn a living, so they are entitled to collect the rent that the tenant agreed to pay.

They also have a right to compensation for any damage that a tenant causes, beyond ordinary wear and tear. Landlords are free to bill the tenants for repairs to damage they caused, and deduct the cost from the security deposit.

Tenant's Rights in Cranston, RI

Most essentially, tenants have a right to get what they're paying for: a dwelling fit for human habitation. To this end, landlords have to confirm that the units they rent meet Cranston, Rhode Island's minimum standards for habitability. These requirements are usuallyy not difficult to meet. They include basic amenities such as running water, electricity, a working phone line, heating, and protection from the elements.

In addition to habitable living spaces, tenants also have a right to reasonably safe common areas. Common areas contain lobbies, hallways, and stairwells - essentially anything that everyone living in an apartment complex has access to. These common areas must fulfill the building standards of Cranston, Rhode Island, and must not contain any unnecessary safety hazards.

In the United States, and most likely under the laws of Rhode Island, it is unlawful for renters or sellers of real estate to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national origin, color, or religion. Doing so can subject a landlord to harsh civil penalties. Also, they cannot discriminate based on physical disabilities, either. Tenants with physical disabilities, who are otherwise qualified to rent an apartment (they are able to pay, have good credit, etc.) are entitled to make reasonable modifications to the apartment to make it more accessible to them, and the landlord generally can't bar a tenant from doing this, as long as the modifications are not too extensive, and are reversible. The landlord can, however, require the tenant to remove the modifications, at the tenant's expense, when they move out.

Tenants are also legally safeguarded from unfair eviction. Before a lease agreement expires, landlords cannot evict tenants unless they breach as significant term of the agreement by not paying rent, causing serious damage to the property, engaging in activities that are a nuisance to the other tenants, or engaging in illegal activity on the property, among other things.

Can a Cranston, Rhode Island Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Landlords and tenants generally want to avoid conflict with one another. Nonetheless, conflicts are sometimes unavoidable. If you end up in a major dispute with a landlord or a tenant, a reputable Cranston, Rhode Island landlord/tenant attorney can help.

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Life in Cranston

Cranston is located in Providence County, Rhode Island, It was once called Pawtuxet. It is the third largest city in the state, with a population of 80,387 per the 2010 census.

Interestingly, Money Magazine named the city amongst the "100 Best Place to Live" in 2006. CQ Press's conducted research ranks Cranston amongst the "Twenty-Five Top Safest Cities in the U.S."

Popular attractions include the Warwick Mall and the CLCF Building. One unfortunate reason the city is known is because in 2010, the Pawtuxet River overflowed, adversely affecting many prominent sites and residences around Cranston.

Famous residents include A.J. Smith, Deon Anderson, Hugh Duffy, Mark Van Eeghen, Michael Parkhurst, Vinny Paz, Will Blackmon, Tom Denucci, Jeff Diehl, and Mike Stud.

Cranston is also home to attorneys that are able to provide residents and local businesses with excellent legal advice. Therefore, residents and business owners do not need to travel far to have their legal needs taken care of.

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