About John Devendorf, Esq.
John Devendorf is a graduate of UCLA and holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he was a Distinguished Scholar, recipient of the ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award, and a participant in the Immigrant Workers’ Rights Clinic and special delegation to Haiti.
A licensed attorney for more than a decade, John transitioned to a career as a legal content writer and editor after an externship with the IRS, a judicial clerkship, and practicing at a civil litigation firm in Princeton, New Jersey. John now lives in Portland, Oregon, where he enjoys writing, international travel, and escape rooms.
Articles written by John Devendorf, Esq.
How To Remove or Dispute a Negative Landlord Reference
If a former landlord gives you negative references, you can talk to them to resolve any issues, mitigate the damages by showing evidence of your reliability as a tenant, or ask a lawyer to write a cease-and-desist letter. If your old landlord is making defamatory statements, you can file a lawsuit to hold them responsible for your financial losses. With the competition for finding decent and affordable rentals, dealing with a former landlord's negative references is an unnecessary complication. …
Spotting Tenant ESA Fraud: A Guide for Landlords and Property Managers
Emotional support animals help provide emotional support to people with emotional or mental health conditions. State and federal housing laws protect tenants with ESAs. However, some tenants without emotional support needs use fake ESA letters to get around apartment pet restrictions or avoid pet deposits. The following guide helps landlords and property managers spot potential ESA fraud. However, before calling out a tenant or applicant for ESA fraud, make sure you understand the consequences …
What Are Subtenant Rights if the Primary Tenant Moves Out?
When the primary tenant moves out, the subtenant is often in a vulnerable legal position because they do not have a legal agreement with the landlord. In some cases, the subtenant can assume the previous tenant's lease. However, most states do not require the landlord to give special allowances to the subtenant, and the landlord can evict the subtenant for the tenant's lease violations. If the primary tenant plans to move out, discuss your options with the landlord to avoid a surprise eviction. …
Can You Sue Your Landlord for an Illegal Lockout or Utility Shutoff?
You can sue your landlord for an illegal lockout or a utility shutoff. State and local landlord-tenant laws prohibit self-help actions like changing locks or shutting off gas, water, or electricity to force a tenant out. Landlords in most jurisdictions have strict requirements for evicting tenants, including cause for eviction, minimum notice, and a court hearing to get an order to vacate. Tenants facing unlawful eviction can file a lawsuit against their landlord to recover financial …
Can a Landlord Evict You if You Make Partial Rent Payments?
Tenants may not have the full rental amount available to pay on the day rent is due. They may write a check for a partial payment, promising to pay the rest when they have the money. Accepting a partial rent payment can mean your landlord waives their right to eviction for non-payment of rent. However, some landlords may still try to evict you after accepting your partial rent payment. If your landlord tries to wrongfully evict you after taking part of the rent payment, you can take legal …
Is My Lease Enforceable if the Rental Unit or ADU Is Unpermitted?
States and local housing agencies regulate rental properties to ensure tenants have the basic needs for safety and habitability. Renting out a unit that does not comply with applicable housing, building, or fire codes can be illegal, and a court may refuse to enforce some or all of a rental agreement for an unlawful unit. Illegal rentals may limit a landlord's rights, but renters generally have tenant protections when landlords wrongfully evict them from unpermitted housing. Tenants renting …
Section 8 Discrimination: Can a Landlord Refuse Housing Vouchers?
Section 8 provides housing vouchers to low-income tenants to subsidize their rent. About half of states prohibit discrimination based on the renter's source of income, including public assistance to pay rent. In these states, landlords cannot refuse to rent to qualifying renters who use housing vouchers and can pay the full rent. However, other states do not provide Section 8 housing protections, and landlords can refuse housing vouchers. If a landlord denies your housing voucher and you …
Is a Landlord Liable for Missing or Broken Fire Alarms?
Landlords are responsible for ensuring rental units have all required fire safety equipment and that smoke alarms function when the tenant moves in. After moving in, the tenant is responsible for notifying their landlord if the fire alarms stop working. However, some states require annual inspections of fire alarms unless the tenant agrees to take on that responsibility. Working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors can help protect you and your loved ones. Make sure your fire safety …
Is Sex Work Illegal in the US? State Prostitution Laws and Criminalization
Prostitution is illegal throughout the United States except in a small number of licensed brothels in certain rural Nevada counties. Every other state has laws that criminalize prostitution, although the specific offenses, penalties, and enforcement practices vary. If you have been charged with a prostitution-related offense, the consequences can include fines, jail time, probation, and a permanent criminal record. For legal help with prostitution or solicitation charges, speak with a criminal …
AI Data Centers and Your Electric Bill: What Are Ratepayer Protection Laws?
As artificial intelligence reshapes the world and the economy, the data center buildout is progressing rapidly. However, it is straining the electricity grid and increasing electricity bills for consumers, raising hard questions about who pays for this increased energy use. In the absence of a federal framework for AI regulation, ratepayer protection laws are being enacted in states across the country, including measures to ensure that technology companies bear the costs of grid upgrades and …
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