How To

Documenting Problems

3 guides

Cómo documentar el consumo de tabaco en tu apartamento

How to build a written record, photos, and evidence file when cigarette smoke is entering your apartment from another unit or shared air space.

Cómo obtener una prueba profesional de humo de cigarrillos

An overview of pressure testing, HVAC balancing, tracer testing, and nicotine testing options for proving cigarette smoke is entering a rental unit.

Cómo documentar una infestación de plagas en tu alquiler

How to photograph, log, and report a pest problem so your landlord can't blame the infestation on you.

Health & Safety

1 guide

Cómo usar un medidor de calidad del aire para documentar el humo del cigarrillo

Step-by-step guide to using a CO2, HCHO, and TVOC air quality meter to build a time-stamped record of secondhand smoke entering your apartment.

Heating / Cooling

12 guides

Cómo prevenir emergencias de calefacción y refrigeración en un alquiler

Prepare for rental heating and cooling failures by testing systems early, reporting weak performance, checking alarms, and planning for extreme heat or cold.

Cómo documentar la falta de calefacción, el aire acondicionado descompuesto y las temperaturas interiores inseguras

Document a broken heater or air conditioner using indoor temperature logs, thermostat photos, weather records, repair requests, and safety evidence.

Cómo lograr que se restablezca la calefacción o el aire acondicionado cuando el propietario se demora

How renters can escalate broken heat or AC during dangerous weather using emergency maintenance, code enforcement, 211, HUD channels, and legal aid.

Broken AC

Cómo prepararse antes de que el aire acondicionado de tu coche de alquiler falle con calor extremo

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of broken air conditioning in extreme heat, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before there's a problem.

Cómo documentar el aire acondicionado roto durante el calor peligroso

Learn how to document broken air conditioning in extreme heat with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence.

Cómo conseguir que un casero arregle el aire acondicionado durante una ola de calor

Learn how to resolve broken air conditioning in extreme heat with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical steps to resolution.

Carbon Monoxide

Cómo protegerse del riesgo de monóxido de carbono en un alquiler

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of suspected carbon monoxide from heater, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before there's a problem.

Cómo documentar alarmas de monóxido de carbono, problemas en el calentador que quema combustible o sospechas de CO

Learn how to document suspected carbon monoxide from heater with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support a claim.

Cómo conseguir que un propietario responda a una alarma o fuga de monóxido de carbono

Learn how to resolve suspected carbon monoxide from heater with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical evidence.

No Heat

Cómo prepararse antes de que tu alquiler pierda la calefacción en el frío

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of no heat in rental, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before problems arise.

Cómo documentar la ausencia de calefacción durante el frío

Learn how to document no heat in rental with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support a tenant complaint.

Cómo restaurar la calefacción de emergencia en un alquiler

Learn how to resolve no heat in rental with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation steps for renters.

Pests

12 guides

Cómo reducir el riesgo de cucarachas, roedores y chinches en un alquiler

Reduce roach, rodent, and bed bug risk with food control, clutter reduction, early detection, travel precautions, and prompt landlord reporting.

Cómo documentar tratamientos fallidos contra plagas y una infestación recurrente

Prove pest treatments are failing by documenting service dates, preparation, pest activity after treatment, entry points, and repeat landlord notices.

Cómo conseguir que un casero solucione una infestación grave de plagas

How renters can push for effective roach, rodent, or bed bug treatment, request coordinated pest control, involve health or code agencies, and seek legal help.

Bed Bugs

Cómo reducir el riesgo de llevar chinches a un alquiler

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of bed bug infestation, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before the problem gets worse.

Cómo documentar la infestación de chinches en un alquiler

Learn how to document bed bug infestation with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support a tenant complaint.

Cómo conseguir que un casero trate una infestación de chinches

Learn how to resolve bed bug infestation with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation steps for renters.

Cockroaches

Cómo mantener a las cucarachas fuera de tu apartamento

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of cockroach infestation, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before the problem gets worse.

Cómo documentar la infestación de cucarachas en un alquiler

Learn how to document cockroach infestation with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support a tenant complaint.

Cómo conseguir que un casero trate una infestación de cucarachas

Learn how to resolve cockroach infestation with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation steps.

Rats & Mice

Cómo mantener ratas y ratones fuera de tu alquiler

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of rats or mice in rental, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before the problem gets worse.

Cómo documentar ratas o ratones en un apartamento o casa de alquiler

Learn how to document rats or mice in rental with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support a tenant complaint.

Cómo conseguir que un casero solucione un problema de ratones o ratones

Learn how to resolve rats or mice in rental with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation steps.

Rental Contract

1 guide

Cómo negociar un mejor contrato de alquiler antes de firmar

How to spot one-sided lease terms and request changes to a rental agreement before you sign it.

Repairs & Maintenance

12 guides

Cómo crear un historial de reparaciones que evite disputas entre propietarios en el futuro

Prevent common landlord repair disputes by creating a move-in record, reporting small problems early, using written maintenance requests, and saving proof.

Cómo documentar que un casero ignore solicitudes de reparación

Build a strong record when a landlord ignores repairs by saving maintenance requests, photos, no-shows, repair attempts, dates, and repeat failures.

Cómo hacer reparaciones cuando tu casero sigue retrasando

Practical escalation steps when a landlord delays repairs, including written demands, code enforcement, HUD channels, legal aid, and state-specific remedies.

Broken Appliances

Cómo reducir las posibilidades de una larga demora en la reparación de un electrodoméstico

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of broken landlord-supplied appliance, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records.

Cómo documentar un refrigerador, una estufa u otro electrodoméstico esencial proporcionado por el propietario que no funciona

Learn how to document broken landlord-supplied appliance with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can prevent a claim against you.

Cómo lograr que un propietario repare o reemplace un electrodoméstico descompuesto

Learn how to resolve broken landlord-supplied appliance with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation.

Closed Work Orders

Cómo evitar que una solicitud de mantenimiento se cierre antes de que se repare el problema

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of closed work orders without repair, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records.

Cómo documentar órdenes de mantenimiento cerradas sin que la reparación se haya completado

Learn how to document closed work orders without repair with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support a dispute.

Cómo reabrir una orden de trabajo que tu casero cerró sin solucionar el problema

Learn how to resolve closed work orders without repair with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation.

Temporary Repairs

Cómo evitar quedarse atascado con una reparación que se rompe constantemente

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of temporary repairs that keep failing, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records.

Cómo documentar reparaciones temporales que siguen fallando

Learn how to document temporary repairs that keep failing with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence.

Cómo conseguir que un casero haga una solución permanente en lugar de temporal

Learn how to resolve temporary repairs that keep failing with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation...

Smoking / Secondhand Smoke

12 guides

Cómo reducir los problemas de humo de segunda mano antes de alquilar un piso

Learn how renters can reduce secondhand smoke problems before moving in by checking smoking rules, ventilation, unit location, and lease language.

Cómo documentar el incumplimiento de una política de no fumar por parte de un propietario

Learn how to document a landlord’s failure to enforce a no-smoking policy using the lease, complaint history, management responses, and repeat incident records.

Cómo conseguir que un propietario trate el humo de segunda mano que entra en tu alquiler

Step-by-step options for renters trying to stop secondhand smoke from entering an apartment, including written notice, repairs, enforcement, and outside help.

Common Area Smoking

Cómo detectar y dejar de fumar en las zonas comunes de los apartamentos antes de que empeore

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of smoking in apartment common areas, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before the problem escalates.

Cómo documentar el fumar en pasillos, balcones, entradas u otras zonas comunes

Learn how to document smoking in apartment common areas with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support a complaint.

Cómo conseguir que tu casero haga cumplir una política de no fumar en zonas compartidas

Learn how to resolve smoking in apartment common areas with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation information.

Marijuana Smoke

Cómo evitar que el humo de marihuana que entre desde una vivienda vecina se convierta en un problema de alquiler mayor

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of neighbor marijuana smoke, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before the problem gets worse.

Cómo documentar el humo de marihuana que entra desde una unidad vecina

Learn how to document neighbor marijuana smoke with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support a tenant.

Cómo resolver la entrada de humo de marihuana desde una vivienda vecina con tu casero

Learn how to resolve neighbor marijuana smoke with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation steps.

Vape Aerosol

Cómo evitar que el vapor de segunda mano entre en tu apartamento se convierta en un problema mayor de alquiler

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of secondhand vape aerosol, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before the problem gets worse.

Cómo documentar la entrada de aerosoles de vapeo de segunda mano en tu apartamento

Learn how to document secondhand vape aerosol with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support a tenant.

Cómo resolver la entrada de aerosol de vapeo de segunda mano en tu piso con tu casero

Learn how to resolve secondhand vape aerosol with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation steps.

Water / Plumbing

12 guides

Cómo prevenir problemas de plomería y daños por agua en un alquiler

Prevent rental plumbing problems by reporting leaks early, protecting drains, watching for sewage warning signs, and creating a move-in plumbing record.

Cómo documentar fugas, falta de agua caliente, desbordes de aguas residuales y otros problemas de agua

Learn how to document rental plumbing problems with photos, videos, temperature readings, water-quality records, cleanup evidence, and written repair notices.

Cómo lograr que tu propietario repare los problemas de agua y plomería

Escalation steps for leaks, no hot water, sewage backups, and unsafe water conditions using utilities, health agencies, code enforcement, HUD, and legal aid.

No Hot Water

Cómo detectar problemas con el calentador de agua antes de perder el agua caliente

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of no or inadequate hot water, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before the problem grows.

Cómo documentar que no haya agua caliente o que se acabe casi de inmediato

Learn how to document no or inadequate hot water with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support a tenant complaint.

Cómo conseguir que un casero restablezca el agua caliente rápidamente

Learn how to resolve no or inadequate hot water with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation steps.

Recurring Leaks

Cómo detectar una fuga que regresa antes de que cause daños reales

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of recurring plumbing leak, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before the problem gets worse.

Cómo documentar la fuga en techos, paredes o bajo el fregadero que sigue regresando

Learn how to document recurring plumbing leak with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support the tenant.

Cómo conseguir que un casero arregle de forma permanente una fuga que sigue apareciendo

Learn how to resolve recurring plumbing leak with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation steps.

Sewage Backups

Cómo reducir el riesgo de un atasco de aguas residuales en un alquiler

Learn how renters can reduce the risk of sewage backup in rental, spot warning signs early, notify management, and keep records before problems arise.

Cómo documentar el atasco de aguas residuales, desbordamientos repetidos de desagües o la entrada de aguas residuales en la unidad

Learn how to document sewage backup in rental with clear photos, videos, logs, written notices, repair records, and evidence that can support a tenant...

Cómo conseguir que un casero responda ante un atasco de aguas residuales

Learn how to resolve sewage backup in rental with a written demand, repair follow-up, government complaints, legal aid, and practical escalation steps.