Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Woonsocket

Find the right Tenant attorney in Woonsocket, RI

Tenant Law in Rhode Island

In Woonsocket, 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 Woonsocket, 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 make a living, so they are entitled to collect the rent that the tenant agreed to pay.

They additionally 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 Woonsocket, RI

At the most basic level, tenants have a basic right to what they're paying for: a habitable living environment. Consequently, landlords in Woonsocket, Rhode Island must ensure that the units they rent to tenants meet some basic standards for human habitation. These requirements vary from state to state, but are often fairly easy to meet. There are no legal criteria that rented units be pretty, particularly spacious, or luxurious. They simply have to be fit for human beings to live in them. To be considered "habitable," rented units must have water, electricity, some form of heating (if the local climate necessitates it), and adequate protection from the elements (proper insulation, no roof leaks, windows that close, etc.).

Tenants also have a right to ensure that the common areas of their apartment building are reasonably safe. Landlords are required to make sure that the common areas of their buildings meet Woonsocket, Rhode Island's building codes, and that there are no conditions that create unnecessary safety hazards. They are obligated to make, at their own expense, the proper repairs.

Under federal and Rhode Island law, tenants are also entitled to protection against discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, marital status, or gender. Such discrimination can lead to grave civil penalties against the landlord. Landlords additionally cannot discriminate against tenants based on physical disability, and have to make reasonable accommodations for physically disabled tenants. For instance, they have to allow disabled tenants to make minor physical alterations to the unit (at the tenant's expense) to make it more accessible. Now, they don't need to allow the tenants to have the building remodeled. We're just talking about things like installing handrails in the bathroom, and similar things. The landlord can, however, require tenants to restore the apartment to its original condition, at the tenant's expense, once the tenant leaves.

Lastly, the laws of most states safeguard tenants from unfair eviction. In general, as long as a tenant is paying rent on time, and is not damaging the unit, they cannot be evicted before the term of the lease expires, unless there is a very good reason to do so (such as excessive noise caused by the tenant, or illegal activities in the apartment).

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

Landlords and tenants typically prefer to avoid getting into fights with one another, for evident reasons. A harmonious relationship is profitable for everyone involved. To that end, the advice of a good Woonsocket, Rhode Island landlord/tenant attorney can help defuse arguments before they become too serious.

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Life in Woonsocket

Woonsocket is located in Rhode Island's Providence COUNTY. Specifically, it is south of Massachusetts. Perhaps one of the main reasons Woonsocket is well-known is because it is home to the headquarters for CVS, the popular pharmacy and drug store chain.

Popular sites include Allen Street Historic District, Frank Wilbur House, Glenark Mills, Hanora Mills, Jenckes Mansion, Linton Block, Main Street Historic District, Pothier House, St. Andrews Episcopal Chapel, Stadium Building, Woonsocket Civil War Monument, and L'Eglise du Precieux Sang.

Famous residents, past and present, include Greg Abate, Rocco Baldelli, Clem Labine, Ambrose Kennedy, Neil Lanctot, William C. Lovering, Bryan Berard, Brian Boucher, Marcel Desaulniers, and Gabby Hartnett.

Woonsocket also has a strong legal force because many attorneys have established small law offices and firms in the city. These offices and firms provide legal services in all areas, allowing local businesses and residents to stay near in order to seek legal guidance.

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