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Home » Columnists » Biographies »

Cheated out of security deposit?

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, November 20, 2008.

Q: After a two-year tenancy I gave my apartment manager written notice that I would be moving out, and I moved out four days prior to the end of my lease. I even stayed with a friend before moving out of state so that my apartment manager would have enough time to do a walkthrough and suggest any additional cleaning and or repairs that needed to be done to receive my full security deposit back. She walked through and told me that everything looked perfect and that I would be refunded my entire deposit within the legally required time limit.  more...

Landlord refuses to part with '70s shag

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, November 6, 2008.

Q: I rent a small cottage and have some concerns about my carpet. It's the kind of carpet that can best be described as 1970s-style shag with all the different color browns so you can't tell where there are spots and stains. I hate to think about what stains could have happened in the last 30 years! My landlord promised to replace the carpet before I took possession of the rental, but when it came time to move-in he just had it "cleaned."  more...

When tenants fight, stay neutral

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, October 23, 2008.

Q: I own a rental home in a very quiet suburban neighborhood. About six months ago I rented the home to a young newlywed couple and everything was fine for the first few months. But the honeymoon is over, and lately I have been getting calls about some very serious and loud disagreements that have led to numerous complaints from neighbors. I spoke to my tenants the first time and then I sent them a written warning. Last weekend I understand the police were called.  more...

How stubborn tenants kill sales

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, October 9, 2008.

Q: My rental home has been for sale for more than a year. During this time, I have given my tenant a rent discount for allowing me to show the home and for the fact that he will have to move on a 30-day notice when it sells.  more...

Landlord, I'm baaaaaaaaaack!

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, September 25, 2008.

Q: I lived at an apartment community for many years, but my lease was not renewed because I was falsely accused of breaching my lease. I have found another rental home that is OK, but I miss my neighbors and regret that I had to move. Recently in a casual conversation with my new landlord I was surprised to learn that my prior landlord actually gave me a good reference. I would really rather live at my original community with all my friends. It was only a verbal reference, but can I use that positive referral and go back to the prior apartment community?  more...

Tenant doomed after pest-control accident

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, September 11, 2008.

Q: I recently caused a small fire and damage to my apartment by mistake. I was trying to get rid of some roaches and I didn't want to bother the landlord so I went to the store and bought some of those pest-control foggers. Something went wrong and they created an explosion that blew my patio doors off the hinges and shattered the master bedroom window. Luckily, no one was injured and there was only minor fire damage to a limited portion of the kitchen. But I did have to stay away from the apartment for five days for repairs.  more...

Employer willing to buy out tenant's lease

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Q: I have a tenant who recently signed a two-year lease for my rental home. She just contacted me indicating that she has been approached by her employer about transferring to another city for a promotion with the company. She wanted me to voluntarily let her out of the lease, but I declined, as the rental market here is not that strong and it took me three months to rent the house.  more...

Can landlord abruptly declare 'no pets' policy?

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, August 14, 2008.

Q: I work for a local humane society and was wondering about the rights of tenants to have pets in their rental unit. We frequently receive calls from tenants with pets claiming that they received a 30-day notice to terminate their tenancy because they have violated the "no pets" policy at their rental property. This also has happened with tenants that claim they are just feeding stray animals in the neighborhood.  more...

Tenant: Splitting cost of new floor is unfair

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, July 31, 2008.

Q: I live by myself and have a large home. To help cover my mortgage I decided to rent out a couple of the extra bedrooms. My two roommates each have their own bedroom and bathroom, and we share the living room and kitchen and rest of the house.  more...

Making repairs shouldn't be tenant's job

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, July 17, 2008.

Q: I have four small rental homes that are older and are really starting to show signs of wear and tear. I am constantly receiving calls from my tenants about something that is broken or needs to be replaced. This is getting expensive and is cutting into my cash flow that I need to pay my own living expenses.  more...

Dead landscaping to cost landlord thousands

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, July 3, 2008.

Q: I am a landlord with one rental house. I have a problem with damage done to the landscaping by the tenants who recently moved out. The rental contract states, "The tenants agree to care for and adequately water the lawn, shrubbery and trees." I have always paid the water bill and there was no noticeable change in the monthly amount so I was very disappointed when I met them for their move-out inspection to find they let the trees, shrubbery and grass die.  more...

Owners dispute duty to rent-free tenant

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, June 19, 2008.
Q: I live in a 12-unit apartment building. When the previous owner died, his will provided an apartment "rent-free for life" to a friend of mine. The building was sold recently and the new owners are aware of the agreement and do not collect rent from this tenant. But an issue has come up and I am wondering who is legally responsible for the maintenance inside this rent-free apartment?  more...

Don't withhold rent for slow repairs

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, June 5, 2008.

Q: I am a renter and we have lived in the apartment for more than two years. At the end of March I informed the landlord that one of our kitchen drawers and the cabinet door below it were in need of repair. The landlord came by to take a look at the problem but did not take them away at that time. He came back a couple of weeks later and removed them.  more...

Landlords say no-smoking rule is legal

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, May 22, 2008.

Q: I work in a major university's housing referral office where we work with local landlords who want to offer housing options to our students. Recently a landlord came in to the rental office and wanted to list a house for rent with the stipulation of no smoking in the house or that only nonsmokers would be allowed in his rental house. Is this legal? What are the laws on smoking in a rented house, condo or apartment?  more...

Broken washer, dryer no reason to withhold rent

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, May 8, 2008.

Q: I live in an apartment building where the landlord has washers and dryers in the common area for the tenants to use. Unfortunately, the machines (all of them!) are routinely broken. Can I withhold my rent? Can I deduct the cost if I have the machines repaired?  more...

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