The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) is known for consumer‑law resources, but did you know it also offers practice manuals available in its Digital Library?
What the Landlord‑Tenant Resources Cover
- National Housing Law Project’s HUD Housing Programs: Tenants’ Rights— A standard guide to understanding HUD housing programs.
- Access to Utility Service (NCLC) — Covers landlord-tenant problems related to gas, electric, or water utilities, including terminations, excess charges, affordability, access, and security deposits. Also has a chapter on tenant strategies for maintaining service when landlords are unable or unwilling to pay the utility bill for the whole building.
- Surviving Debt- Chapter 20 (NCLC) — Eviction response and strategies for lease exit with minimal cost; authored by a Housing Law Project attorney.
- Fair Credit Reporting (NCLC) — Tenant rights related to inaccuracies in screening and eviction reports, as well as how to keep inaccuracies out of credit reports.
- Collection Actions § 12.2 (NCLC) — Analysis of challenges that come up rent‑debt collection, junk fees, and discrepancies from security deposits. Integrates with Fair Debt Collection Practices, see § 7.4.12.
- Consumer Bankruptcy Law and Practice, Chapter 18, also see § 18.8 — Tenant protections when landlord files for bankruptcy.
- Repossessions § 15.7.4 and UDAP § 8.2.8.4 (NCLC) — Tenant rights when personal property is seized or warehoused; remedies under state unfair‑deceptive acts statutes.
- Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices and §§ 2.2.6 & 8.2 — Broad remedies for deceptive landlord behavior under state UDAP laws.
- Federal Practice Manual for Legal Aid Attorneys — ideal for when landlord‑tenant cases cross over into federal court. Helpful in actions against a landlord or housing agency.
- NCLC Consumer Class Actions— critical resource for new and experienced class actions exploring any subject area.
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