It May Be Your House, But It's My Home

Approximately one in four homes in Boulder City (24%) is renter occupied. And although that isn’t as high as the Nevada average (39%), it still translates into thousands of Boulder City residents who have landlords. So if you’re one of those residents, what rights do you have?

Your rights as a tenant largely depend on Nevada’s landlord-tenant laws (statutory rights) and the provisions of your rental agreement (contract rights). Your lease agreement may restrict your rights as a tenant, but in Nevada it cannot go so far as to require you to relinquish your statutory rights. The following are some common questions regarding your rights as a tenant:

Can landlords evict at will?

Normally, a tenant must have done something wrong before the landlord has the right to evict. In Nevada, reasons for which tenants may be evicted include the following:

• Nonpayment of rent or other charges required by the lease, such as utilities

• Retaining possession of the premises after expiration of the lease term

• Failure to comply with applicable landlord-tenant laws or your lease agreement

Do landlords have unlimited rights of entry?

Landlords may not enter an occupied rental property at will. They may enter the home only if they have a legitimate reason for doing so, including showing it to prospective buyers, having it repaired, or in an emergency. Absent permission from the tenant, the landlord must provide at least 24 hours’ notice and may only enter at reasonable times during normal business hours.

Can landlords increase rent without reason?

Typically, landlords may increase rent as long as they give at least 45 days’ prior written notice to the tenant. However, if a landlord’s motive in increasing rent is retaliatory (such as in response to a complaint against the landlord), the increase won’t stand and the tenant may be able recover damages.

To more fully understand your statutory and contractual rights as a tenant, consult an experienced attorney.