06/03/2026
As you might imagine, I'm in favor of struggling tenants calling an attorney. However, some issues can be handled with the assistance of a tenants’ rights organization, a local housing agency, or the free legal consultations offered by some libraries.
Here are a few issues that may fall into this category:
1. Poor Communication: Tenants often struggle with landlords who are difficult to reach or unresponsive. This can make it hard to resolve issues quickly, leading to prolonged problems with maintenance or lease disputes.
2. Security Deposit Disputes: A common issue involves landlords unfairly withholding security deposits at the end of the lease. Tenants often report that landlords fail to provide an itemized list of deductions, or they wrongfully claim damage to the property in order to retain part or all of the deposit.
3. Excessive or Unreasonable Fees: Some landlords impose extra fees that tenants consider unfair, such as fees for late rent payments, additional security deposits for pets, or arbitrary charges for maintenance.
If you know someone dealing with any of these, please share this with them so they can find the appropriate resources.