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Lsd: Tenants Rights

Lsd: Tenants Rights image
Parent Issue
Day
1
Month
October
Year
1971
OCR Text

LSD:  TENANTS RIGHTS

by Don Peyote

In a previous L.S.D. article (Issue No. 12) I talked about the tenants rights and the process of eviction. This weeks column will cover the respective rights and obligations of landlords and tenants.

Your lease will probably include a great many obligations on the tenants part and very few on the landlord's. However, just because the lease doesn't state the landlord's obligations doesn't mean that he does not have to fulfill them. For example, Michigan state law says that a landlord must keep the premises fit and in reasonable repair, but the lease probably won't say so. Before you sign a lease you should make sure that there aren't any obligations missing which should be there. And even if your landlord won't modify his lease accordingly, you don't lose your rights.

If you should decide to begin a rent strike, the landlord will probably use a number of different tactics to scare you into paying.

1. One tactic is to send letters o parents which threaten to ruin their credit rating and bring them to court. They can't do anything to parents. (Note: Landlords often try to make your parents sign the lease. This isn't required, regardless of how old you are.)

2. Forcible entry. Under Michigan law a landlord cannot enter premises held by a tenant. If he attempts to do so:

  a. Inform him of your rights under the above law.

  b. Physically block the doorway.

  c. If he threatens you, take note of the language and warn him that he    may be liable for assault.

  d. Warn him that if he touches you he may be liable for battery.

  e. Call people to your assistance to serve as witnesses or whatever.

3. Forcible eviction. If a landlord attempts to evict you without a writ of restitution, you should follow the procedure above as well as the following:

  a. Tell him that he has no right to evict you without a writ of restitution    and deny him entrance. (He may try to use a subterfuge such as a          lease provision for inspections, in order to gain entrance.)

  b. If he threatens to remove any of your possessions, tell him that you   will charge him with theft, and that he will be liable for damages to your   person or property.

4. Lock out. The landlord may try to enter your apartment while you are absent, remove your possessions, change the lock, and thereby lock you out. If you feel there is any danger of this:

  a. Arrange for your fellow tenants to guard each others' apartments or    houses.

  b. Install your own padlock which he will not be able to open.

  c. If you are locked out, get in touch with the Tenants Union and they      will get you back in. Their number is 763-3102.