Tenant's Rights & Responsibilities

students at laptops

Tenant's Rights

You have many rights as a tenant, most of which pertain to making your apartment livable. If the following requirements are not met, you may have the right to withhold a portion of the rent; however, please contact OGA or seek legal advice before doing so.

  • You must be provided with running water, and you can’t be charged for it unless you live in a single-family home or you have a sub-meter for your unit.
  • You must be provided a sink, stove, and oven. Note that a refrigerator is not required, but if one is provided, it must be kept in good working condition.
  • The landowner must keep the apartment rodent- and insect-free.
  • Your landowner (or their agent) may only enter your apartment to inspect the premises, make repairs, show the apartment to prospective tenants, in accordance with a court order, and the landowner must provide you with proper notice.
    • Landowners or their agents may enter without notice only in an emergency.
  • Your landowner cannot terminate tenancy or raise rent in response to you exercising your legal rights. If such actions are taken within six months of you contacting the Board of Health, joining a tenants’ organization, or exercising any other legal rights, those actions can be considered retaliation against you. The landowner will be required to prove otherwise.

Tenant Responsibilities

  • Pay your rent! Pay your rent on time or you may be subject to late fees and/or eviction.
  • Follow the terms of the lease. You can be evicted before your lease is up if you do not obey the terms of the lease.
  • Write down and photograph any damages. You are responsible for documenting and providing your landowner with a list of everything that is wrong when you move in. When you move out, if there are damages to the apartment, the landowner has the right to charge for the damages and deduct the cost from your security deposit.
  • Remove garbage and recyclables in a clean and safe manner into the appropriate containers and follow proper garbage collection procedures for your street.
  • Be responsible for your conduct and the conduct of other persons on the property, whether known by you or not.