You have legal protections if your apartment becomes uninhabitable —due to flooding, mold, no heat, or pests. In some cases, you may not have to pay rent at all. 1. What Is “Uninhabitable”? A place may be deemed uninhabitable if it lacks: Heat or water Electricity Structural safety Sanitation (severe mold, rodents, etc.) 2. Your Rights State laws often allow: Rent reduction Lease termination No rent obligation during unlivable conditions 3. What To Do Notify landlord in writing immediately Take pictures, get inspection if possible If ignored, consider local housing authority or court 4. Moving Out If you leave due to uninhabitable conditions, keep all evidence to defend against future rent claims .
If you’ve recently started a job in the U.S., especially in the South or Midwest, you may have heard of “right to work” laws. But what do they actually mean? 1. What Is a Right to Work Law? These laws prohibit employers from requiring workers to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment. 2. Which States Have Them? As of 2025, 26 states have right-to-work laws—including Texas, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 3. What It Means for You You can choose not to join a union You cannot be fired for opting out But you may still benefit from union-negotiated contracts 4. Pros and Cons Pros: More job freedom No forced union dues Cons: Weaker collective bargaining Lower union power may mean fewer protections 5. Union Rights Still Apply Right to work laws don’t eliminate unions—they just make membership optional.