AARP HomeFit Video: Shared Spaces and Outdoor Places

Caring for a home is work. Caring for a home with a yard is even more work. Freedom from lawn care, snow-shoveling, raking, weeding and mulching are among the many benefits of living in an apartment building, some town house developments or a full-service community.

The concerns listed below apply regardless of someone’s owner or renter status, or the dwelling type. One difference is whether the necessary work must be either done or arranged by the resident, a non-occupying owner, a homeowners’ association or a management company.

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About Tenant Rights

The legal rights and protections for residents who rent rather than own vary by both location and situation.

For instance, the rights of tenants who rent from an individual or private company differ from those who live in government-sponsored housing.

The website of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides links to resources for every state, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. Visit HUD.gov and enter the search term “tenant rights.” Information about the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act can be found on the same website by searching the phrase “disability overview.”