Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) Practice Test

The lack of habitability gives a resident the right to do what?

1. Increase their rent

2. Make repairs and deduct from rent

3. Request cosmetic changes

4. Leave the apartment with no notice

The correct answer is: Make repairs and deduct from rent

A lack of habitability in a rental unit indicates that the property does not meet certain health or safety standards, which can significantly impact a tenant's living conditions. When a resident finds their apartment uninhabitable, they have the legal right to make necessary repairs to restore the unit's habitability and deduct the cost of those repairs from their rent. This right serves as a protective measure for tenants, allowing them to address urgent issues such as plumbing problems, heating failures, or serious safety hazards without waiting for the landlord to take action. This option is grounded in tenant rights laws that recognize the responsibility of landlords to maintain livable conditions. If the landlord fails to uphold this obligation, tenants can take matters into their own hands in a reasonable and lawful manner. The legality of this right may vary depending on local laws, but it generally supports the notion that tenants should not have to pay full rent while living in a space that fails to meet basic living standards. The other options do not appropriately resolve the challenges posed by a lack of habitability. Increasing rent does not align with the situation of uninhabitable conditions, as it would be unfair for tenants to pay more while facing issues. Requesting cosmetic changes does not address the fundamental problem of habitability