• Listen to this segment

• Listen to the entire program

While pundits and economists worry about Wall Street’s well-being, Americans worry about losing their jobs, paying their bills and the health of the planet. The capitalist marketplace promotes the exploitation of people and natural resources as cheap fixes. But you don’t have to abandon your values to save a buck. Welcome to the People’s Marketplace.

Do you rent the place you call home? Whether you’ve been a renter for life or a recent home foreclosure made you one, knowing your renters rights can save you a lot of money? How? Being an informed tenant will help you avoid unlawful evictions or repair costs, among other things, saving you cash and peace of mind.

Renters rights are granted by state, county, and city governments, so they vary widely depending on where you live. In California, a good place to get to know your basic rights is the website for the California Department of Consumer Affairs at www.dca.ca.gov. On the left side of their home page is a section called “quick hits”. Click on the heading “landlord/tenant” and you’ll be taken to a surprisingly well-organized and easy to use online guide all about California landlord and renters rights. The sections include “Having repairs done”, “Dealing with Problems”, and “The eviction Process”. You will also find lots of links to websites specific to your city and county. California renters can also check-out www.tenantstogether.org for information. Renters with disabilities including HIV/AIDS, senior citizens, and those with a dependent child all have rights specific to them, but you got to know them to demand them.

If you rent in Los Angeles, you must, must, must, visit the website for the Coalition for Economic Survival, at cesinaction.org. They have pages and pages of information on the rights specific to Los Angeles tenants. They also have a tenant’s rights legal clinic every Wednesday evening at 7pm and Saturday at 10am where you can go for in-person advice from a knowledgeable advocate. If you are involved in any problem with your landlord that you can’t fix by talking to them, visit the clinic as soon as possible. For other legal aid help options try Los Angeles Legal Aid at www.lafla.org.

One of the newest and most important renter’s rights in Los Angeles: In December of 2008 it became illegal for the tenants of any building or house to be evicted simply because of a foreclosure, or if the building is sold. Again, a new owner – be it a bank, a person, or a corporation, cannot evict due to foreclosure or sale. They also cannot raise the rent outside of the rental laws your old landlord had to follow. If you receive a notice of eviction or a rent increase from a bank or new owner, you must respond within the time the notice gives, and then get help immediately.

No matter what the situation is, a small dispute over a parking space or a three-day notice of eviction, and no matter what rights you have, here are some universal rules: document every conversation with your landlord for yourself in writing to refer to later. To keep everyone honest, communicate only in writing, especially if you’re dealing with a management company or you do not have a positive personal relationship with your landlord, and send all communication through the mail with a post-office delivery confirmation, or keep a copy of every letter for yourself. And, always keep things friendly and professional.

A powerful way to protect your whole building from landlord shenanigans is to organize a tenants association. Get a group of tenants organized to meet whenever necessary. If a building is in serious disrepair, a bug infestation hits, or a new owner tries to evict everyone, a tenants association allows information to be gathered and shared quickly. Collective action is the most effective way to combat cases of egregious unlawful landlord actions. A group of tenants will also be more likely to gain the help of a tenant lawyer should legal action be warranted.

So, learn your renter’s right. Knowledge, like money, is power. This is the People’s Marketplace. Together, we can take back the economy.