Tenants have legal obligations when renting a property; signing a lease is not a private matter but a legal contract into which you’ve entered. On the other hand, landlords have legal obligations as well when it comes to the property maintenance and services provided.

The vast majority of landlords today are no doubt very responsible and maintain their properties in full compliance with the law. For those who don’t, however, tenants may choose to exercise their right to organize in order to force his or her hand on certain issues.

Choosing Your Dispute

Remember that there is a big difference between a rental property that is somewhat out of date and one that is violating the law or that is unsafe. The carpet in the entryway may be old, but this may be nothing over which to start a rent strike. So, it’s good to consider your disputes and to be selective.

Safety should be everyone’s priority and unsafe properties should be fixed and maintained. But it’s good to write up a list of specific problems in a rental property and to be sure that these problems actually violate the law or are presenting a safety hazard before anyone organizes.

Handling a Dispute

Of course it’s better to try to resolve a dispute with a landlord directly before anyone considers a rent strike or other methods. Remember that a landlord has the legal right to answer your claims in court, so just forming a tenant organization is not a guarantee that you’ll get your way.

And sometimes when a landlord is presented with a letter or protest in writing and signed by many tenants, they’re more likely to take it seriously. This can save everyone court fees and other expenses.

Any tenant or tenant organization that has a serious dispute with a landlord would do well to speak to an attorney, at least for a consultation, before taking any drastic measures. An attorney can review your claims and advise the best way to handle these disputes so that everyone’s legal interests are protected. This article should not substitute for sound legal advice.

Look for Plainview, NY area lawyer Elan Wurtzel, PC for more details at www.WurtzelLaw.com