According to landlordtenantinfo.org, general landlord responsibilities should include:

  • be weather and waterproof
  • have working plumbing
  • provide enough hot and cold running water
  • have a working heating system
  • have an electrical system in good working order
  • be free from infestations of insects and rodents
  • have sufficient trash cans
  • have floors, stairways and railings in good repair
  • have natural lighting in every room
  • have working windows that open at least halfway or mechanical ventilation
  • have safe fire or emergency exits leading to street or hallway
  • have a working deadbolt lock on main entrance
  • have working security devices on windows
  • have working smoke detectors

Minimum Housing Standards:

1) Minimum Space
Bedrooms, if occupied by one person, must be 70 square feet. If occupied by two or more people, they must have 50 square feet per occupant.

2) Ventilation
All habitable areas must have a window. Bathrooms and kitchens are not considered habitable areas, but they must have some type of artificial ventilation.

3) Rooms
An apartment/house must have its own bathroom and kitchen; if not, it is called a "rooming house."

4) Safety
Depending on the size of the building and the date of construction/renovation, your landlord may be required to provide some or all of the following: smoke detectors, self-locking entrance locks, peepholes, a two-way intercom, elevator mirrors, and secured mailboxes. The newer the property, the more standards! Common areas must be well lit. If you wish to install any locks on your own, you should check with the landlord first. You must provide the landlord with a copy of the key.

5) Temperature
Check with the landlord as to whether you can regulate your own heat, as well as the temperature of the water. In some instances, landlords are required to keep the apartment at a minimum of 68 degrees Fahrenheit from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and at least 55 degrees between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. You may wish to add a minimum temperature to your lease, if you are unable to regulate your heat.

For more information, click here.

Or check out http://www.tenant.net/Other_Laws/