Boys Meet the Slums of Pennbrook University

Well it looks like "The Honeymoon is Over" this week on Boy Meets World Fever. Cory and Topanga discover just how "hard" marriage is and move into a slum. Just like Cory and Topanga need to, it is important if you are renting a house or apartment, that you know just what your rights are as a tenant. So here is some helpful information from the legal website Findlaw.comAnti-Discrimination LawsUnder the Federal Fair Housing Act, landlords may not discriminate against current or prospective tenants on the basis of their race, gender, sexual orientation, familial status, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or disability. This applies to advertisements that exclude any of those protected characteristics. Some states also extend these protections to other protected classes, as well.The Right to a Habitable HomeA "habitable home" is a house or apartment that is reasonably fit to live in. This means your rental should be free from unsafe conditions, such as the following:Bad electrical wiringLack of running waterFaulty floorsInfestation of rats, cockroaches, or other pestsMoldBroken doorsLeaking or unstable ceilingsKeep in mind that most state laws prohibit landlords from adding language in the lease to "waive" this right.Security Deposits: Limits and DeadlinesMost landlords require tenants to pay a security deposit upon signing the lease, which is then returned to the tenant after the lease term ends (minus any money needed for reasonable repairs, cleaning, or unpaid rent). However, most states have laws that place limits on how much of a deposit a landlord may require and how soon it must be refunded at the end of a lease. Keep in mind that tenants may have to pay an additional deposit for pets or other factors considered that are considered liabilities.Tenant's Right to PrivacyJust because the landlord owns the building you're renting doesn't give them the right to enter your unit whenever they like. As a tenant, you have the right to a reasonable level of privacy and quiet enjoyment of the property. There may be times when the landlord needs to access your rental property to do a repair or check something, but they are generally required to give you notice beforehand.Landlords also have the right to conduct reasonable background checks into a prospective tenant's credit history and crime records.On our show we sometimes make silly claims alongside Boy Meets World like "Don't Join the Mob" or "Don't Join a Cult" but in all seriousness, if you do find yourself in unsafe or unlivable housing, know your rights and reach out to others in your community to get help either improving your situation or getting the heck out. I know that is easy to say in a podcast description and harder to do in practice, but remember, unlike Cory and Topanga seem to, you have people in your life that care about you and want good things for you and will help you out in times of trouble and hardship, at least I really hope you do.You can also file a complaint with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development at this link https://shorturl.at/puF18