Bed Bug Infestation
The presence of bed bugs in a home, often in mattresses, furniture and nearby hiding places.
Read definitionCastelblanco Law Group
CALL NOW • AVAILABLE 24/7 • 1-800-375-0001
Castelblanco Law Group
Clear definitions of common rental housing and tenant law terms.
Browse by letter
30 terms · All letters
B
Bed Bug Infestation
The presence of bed bugs in a home, often in mattresses, furniture and nearby hiding places.
Read definition
Breach of Quiet Enjoyment
A substantial interference with a tenant’s ability to use and enjoy their rental home.
Read definition
C
Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Breathing carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can build up from faulty fuel-burning equipment.
Read definition
Cockroach Infestation
The presence of an established cockroach population in a home or building.
Read definition
Code Violation
A condition that does not comply with an applicable building, housing or safety code.
Read definition
H
Habitability
The condition of a rental home being safe and suitable to live in.
Read definition
Health and Safety Violation
A failure to meet rules intended to protect residents’ health and safety.
Read definition
Housing Code Enforcement
The process local authorities use to inspect housing and address code violations.
Read definition
I
Illegal Entry
A landlord entering a rental home without a lawful basis or required notice.
Read definition
Illegal Lockout
Preventing a tenant from accessing their home without following the lawful eviction process.
Read definition
Implied Warranty of Habitability
A landlord’s legal duty to keep a rental home fit for people to live in.
Read definition
L
Landlord Harassment
Conduct by a landlord that intimidates a tenant or unlawfully interferes with the tenancy.
Read definition
Landlord Negligence
A landlord’s failure to use reasonable care in fulfilling a duty, resulting in harm.
Read definition
Lead Poisoning
Harmful effects caused by lead accumulating in the body.
Read definition
Lead-Based Paint
Paint containing lead, which can become a hazard when it deteriorates or is disturbed.
Read definition
N
No Heat
The absence of working heating needed to keep a rental home adequately warm.
Read definition
Normal Wear and Tear
Ordinary deterioration from everyday use, rather than damage caused by misuse or neglect.
Read definition
Notice to Enter
Advance notice of a landlord’s planned entry into a rental home when required by law.
Read definition
P
Plumbing Failure
A malfunction in pipes, drains or fixtures that disrupts water supply or waste removal.
Read definition
Premises Liability
Legal responsibility for injuries caused by unsafe property conditions.
Read definition
Q
Quiet Enjoyment
A tenant’s right to use their home without substantial, unlawful interference.
Read definition
R
Retaliation
Adverse action by a landlord because a tenant exercised a legally protected right.
Read definition
Rodent Infestation
The presence of rats or mice in a home or building, with signs such as droppings or gnaw marks.
Read definition
S
Sewage Backup
Wastewater flowing back into a home through drains or plumbing fixtures.
Read definition
Substandard Housing
Housing that falls below applicable health, safety or building standards.
Read definition
T
Tenant Rights
Legal protections that govern a renter’s housing, privacy and relationship with their landlord.
Read definition
U
Uninhabitable Conditions
Serious defects that make a rental home unsafe or unsuitable to live in.
Read definition
Unsafe Living Conditions
Hazards in a rental home that may put occupants at risk of injury or harm.
Read definition
Unsanitary Living Conditions
Unclean or unhealthy conditions, such as sewage, waste buildup or infestations.
Read definition
W
Water Damage
Damage to a property caused by leaks, flooding or other unwanted water intrusion.
Read definition