Title: Rights & Responsibilities of Tenants | Lawyers.com
Headings: Rights & Responsibilities of Tenants
Rights & Responsibilities of Tenants
Security Deposits
Your Privacy Versus Landlord Access
Maintenance and Repairs
Safety on the Property
Insurance
Pets
Questions for Your Attorney

Content: Safety on the Property
Landlords in most states have some degree of legal responsibility to protect tenants from foreseeable criminal conduct of thieves and even fellow tenants. Adequate and working door and window locks are usually all that’s required, although some state and local laws require peepholes and specific types of locks and lighting. Of course, if you see a security risk, such as an easy-to-enter parking garage, you should ask the landlord to make it more secure. Most landlords don’t want to run the risk of being sued on grounds that it was easy for someone to enter the rental premises and steal property from or assault a tenant. Also, tenants have the right to be safe from injury caused by the conditions of the premises. So, a landlord shouldn’t hide or conceal defects from you—for example, by placing a carpet over weak flooring. If you’re hurt because your landlord concealed a defect or was negligent in making repairs (for example, by failing to fix something such as a broken handrail on the steps to your front door), your landlord may be liable for your injuries or losses. Finally, landlords are often expected to deal with serious environmental health hazards. Federal law, for example, requires property owners to inform tenants (before they sign a lease) of lead-based paint hazards on the property. Insurance
Your lease may include a clause requiring you to obtain renters’ insurance.