Project Sentinel - What Is Tenant and Landlord Counseling?

Project Sentinel offers free, confidential services to both tenants and landlords to help them understand their rights and responsibilities under state and local laws and ordinances that affect the rental relationship.

Project Sentinel believes that many disputes between tenants and landlords can be avoided if the parties can obtain a neutral explanation of their rights and responsibilities. This type of counseling can help when there are questions or misconceptions about:

The nature of leases and month to month rental agreements
The duty of landlords to repair the premises and the duty of the tenant to maintain the premises
The landlord's right to enter the rental unit and the tenant's right to privacy
Rental increases and other changes of terms
Termination of the rental relationship
Handling security deposits - including requirements for inspections at the time a tenant vacates and the process for refunding the deposit
Specific requirements in cities with special mandatory dispute resolution or rent control ordinances such as in Campbell, Fremont, Los Gatos and Palo Alto.