 7 slimy landlord tactics
* 7 slimy landlord tactics
* Repair rip-offs: Your landlord may try to charge for fixing that leaky sink, busted refrigerator or recalcitrant space heater. That's a crock. Under most state laws, renters are entitled to reside in a safe, habitable dwelling on the landlord's dime. That means landlords must fork over for repairs and broken locks -- and do it in a reasonable time frame.
* Dented security deposits: Your apartment may not have taken a beating, but your security deposit might. Call them "creative deductions"--$100 for chipped paint, $200 for ripped carpeting and so on. The big problem: By the time you get your dented deposit back, you've already moved out.
* Roommate charges: In expensive cities like New York and San Francisco, taking on a roommate is a quick (if crowded) way to slash living expenses. Your landlord knows this and may try to charge you for the extra bodies, which can be illegal depending on the number of roommates you take in.
* Usurious late fees: Landlords can make a pretty penny on late payments. State laws are squishy on what constitutes a "reasonable" fee, and there are plenty of property owners who will charge stiff penalties. Reasonable fees start at $5 a day and head up to 6% of a month's rent. Worst-case scenario: an eviction notice.
* Illegal spaces: Converting garages, basements or recreation rooms into apartments is a no-no without proper zoning approval. So is living there. If the authorities find out, you'll soon be looking for new digs.
* Key money: When rents aren't set by the laws of supply and demand, as is the case with rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartments, black markets spring up. To skirt the rent cap, slimy landlords will accept extra fees --called "key money" -- from prospective tenants looking for an edge.
* Threat of eviction: Landlords can find plenty of excuses to evict you, from lease technicalities to the occasional late payment. This one has a nasty ring to it, but in many cases, no teeth.Converting garages, basements or recreation rooms into apartments is a no-no without proper zoning approval. So is living there. If the authorities find out, you'll soon be looking for new digs.
* Key money: When rents aren't set by the laws of supply and demand, as is the case with rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartments, black markets spring up. To skirt the rent cap, slimy landlords will accept extra fees --called "key money" -- from prospective tenants looking for an edge.
* Threat of eviction: Landlords can find plenty of excuses to evict you, from lease technicalities to the occasional late payment. This one has a nasty ring to it, but in many cases, no teeth. | 
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