Steps: 1. Ask permission to change roommates or names on a lease by submitting a written request to your landlord.
2. Include some background information on your prospective roommate, such as employment status and rental history, in your written request to the landlord.
3. Obtain a rental application for your prospective roommate if the landlord agrees to your request.
4. Realize that your landlord will probably require you and your new roommate to sign a new lease or rental agreement as co-tenants, giving both of you equal rights and responsibilities.
5. Be aware that your landlord may change the terms of your new lease or rental agreement and may have the right to increase your rent or security deposit, subject to the rent laws in your municipality.
Tips:
Because your landlord will probably check your prospective roommate's credit history, ask your prospective roommate to provide your landlord with a copy of his or her credit report to save time during the rental application process.
If your landlord increases the rent for you and your new roommate, try to negotiate the amount of the increase with a lower counteroffer.
Warnings:
Some state and municipal rent control laws limit increases in rent and security deposits; check with local housing authorities about the rent control laws in your area in order to protect your best interests.
Moving Your Pet
Getting through the emotional stress of moving is difficult enough for adults and children. But what about pets, a species with whom we can't even level? Pet owners are often baffled by their pets' behavior during and after a move. Sometimes it's a personality change, a regression in housebreaking habits or a sudden unexplained illness. Even if you don't notice something that dramatic, there's no question that your faithful companion is feeling stress. How do you move your pet and keep the strain to an absolute minimum -- both to yourself and your beloved pet?
Is That Apartment Hazardous to Your Health?
When you sign a lease committing yourself to a unit in an apartment complex or building, you're agreeing to live in close quarters with strangers. You're also making the assumption that your building will be properly managed and maintained. That includes such factors as air quality and adequate pest control. As a tenant, you have rights, of course, but some of the most serious threats to your health -- such as carbon monoxide -- are ones you can't even see or smell.
Does The Landlord Have To Clean The Apartment Before I Move In?
QUESTION:What can I do about a landlord who promised a clean and newly painted apartment before we moved in, but didn't deliver? We have moved in because we had nowhere else to go, but I am concerned about our children's health and the total well-being of our family. Can I report the unhealthy living conditions to the health department? Please let me know of my legal rights or how to go about this problem in a dignified manner.
