Tenant rental rights vary according to state or local jurisdictions, and some locations may provide for more tenant rights than others. General tenant rights include a reasonable right to privacy within a rental space. In most situations, a landlord must give a tenant advance notice before entering a rental unit, and a tenant may have the right to reasonably deny entry to a landlord. A tenant in a rental unit also has the right to live in a habitable space that complies with applicable health and building codes. Landlords who neglect rental properties or refuse to make necessary repairs may suffer penalties under the law. Tenants also have a general right to defend themselves when faced with eviction, and may use legal means to stop a unlawful eviction. Tenant rental rights under federal law protect tenants from discrimination in the rental process, and tenants who have been discriminated against by a landlord have the right to take legal action against the landlord.