Articles by: Lisa Bernstein

Lisa Bernstein

Shortly after civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the federal Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968). In 1988, the law was amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act which added gender, familial status and disability to the list. Each […]

Lisa Bernstein

 · Jul 24, 2009

A security deposit is a sum of money that your landlord requires you to pay before you move into your apartment. Your landlord will hold onto the security deposit until you move out. The purpose of the security deposit is to protect your landlord in case you damage the apartment during the time you are […]

Lisa Bernstein

 · Jul 22, 2009

An apartment rental agreement is a written or oral short-term tenancy agreement between you, as a renter, and a landlord. It is automatically renewed at the end of the period (usually 30-days), unless you or your landlord terminate it by written notice. This agreement creates a legal relationship (a contract) between the two of you. […]

Lisa Bernstein

 · Jul 21, 2009

Only a handful of states in the entire United States (including New York, New Jersey, California and Maryland) have rent control laws. None of them has statewide laws. Instead, cities within these states pass their own rent control laws. State laws affect city rent control ordinances (also called rent stabilization or maximum rent regulation), so […]

Lisa Bernstein

 · Jul 19, 2009

Starting a small vegetable garden, even if you live in a small apartment, is easier than you think. With a little bit of planning and some imagination, you can enjoy fresh vegetables grown at home. Step One: Plan Your Vegetable Garden To begin planning your vegetable garden, you’ll have to locate a spot with good […]

Lisa Bernstein

 · Jul 15, 2009

Eviction, a term with negative connotations, is a legal process whereby a landlord removes a tenant from an apartment. As with all legal processes, both sides (landlord and you as tenant) have legal rights. Each state (legal jurisdiction) has different laws. So, if you find yourself facing eviction, you must take steps to learn the […]

Lisa Bernstein

 · Jul 10, 2009

Whether you live in an apartment, condominium, townhouse, off-campus college housing, or other type of leased property, a rental insurance policy is a wise investment. While your landlord’s insurance covers losses related to the building, your personal property is not covered under their insurance. Rental Insurance For a modest price, renter’s insurance covers the cost […]

Lisa Bernstein

 · Jul 9, 2009