Tenants’ Rights, Need to Know

According to the New Hampshire State law RSA 540-A, tenants have more rights than a home owner, but do college students know this? A landlord may not enter the residence without consent Signing a lease that entails illegal operations by the landlord does not make it valid, when rights are lawfully violated.

PSC has had many incidents to which tenant’s rights have been violated. Unbeknownst to the tenants they have “scammed.” An anonymous landlord in Plymouth has a tendency to hand out fines to his tenants for violating his lease, according to present tenants. The tenants pay up without actually looking into why they have been fined and what kind of rights they actually have. An incident that occurred in the middle of December, gives a perfect example of what is law and what is lease, intern opening he door for many of the PSC student tenants. The anonymous landlord decided to “bust” a get together being held by four female tenants who were having a Christmas party. The tenants had called the landlord and surrounding neighbors to inform them of the party for respectful appreciation, although the landlord didn’t seem to think so. “He told my roommate and I that he was coming in because we were having an illegal alcohol party, we said no repeatedly. He proceeded to push my roommate hard enough that she hit the railing, and hit my arm, which was holding the door handle. He took pictures, and after a ten minute verbal argument we called 911.” (Anonymous Tenant)

The four tenants immediately went on the hunt for their rights as tenants. It is plain and simple to find out what rights tenants have. The courthouse in downtown Plymouth is a great place to find a pamphlet that says the rights tenants and landlords have. Online there are many websites to find out what specifically a tenant wants to know. Lawyers on the other hand in Plymouth may give a tenant their rights, but can not usually help out with advice because of conflict of interest, because most of the landlords around here are already represented by at least two or three lawyers.

Landlords have a responsibility to their homes and apartments that are provided, and some people do not understand that most of the time they are not trying to be unkind about a situation, but just trying to protect themselves. Although when a landlord feels that a tenant is a risk to them, they will try to find something to fine them on, or even grounds for eviction. The most interesting news gained from the interview with the four tenants mentioned earlier, is that their landlord gave them an eviction notice hours after the incident. The girls then panicked, but come to find out that in the state of New Hampshire, a tenant may not be evicted in the winter season.

When signing a least most people have the fear that a written piece of paper has more to say over justice. A lease that is broken by either party and turns into legal action is invalid and has no grounds against the law.

Know your tenant-rights especially before paying fines for allegations towards a alcohol party is, and what it isn’t.