Landlord-tenant law includes rights and obligations each landlord and each tenant has with regard to the rental property. Both parties need to know the basics of renting a place, how to collect or pay security deposits, the basics of state and federal laws regarding fair housing, and more.
If you are a landlord, you may need help working out tax deductions or determining how to get a renter evicted because of unpaid rent. Tenants, on the other hand, may need help understanding their rights to tenant safety, how security deposits are returned, and whether they can sublet the rental property.
This section has some basic information and resources for both parties involved in the landlord-tenant relationship.
The landlord-tenant relationship is outlined in the lease agreement, which protects both landlords’ and tenants’ rights. Most states also recognize lease agreements made orally, but only for a period of one year or less.
A typical lease agreement includes:
Sometimes, sections of a lease agreement could be illegal. New tenants should check their local laws if in doubt, but generally, landlords may not include any of the following terms:
A short-term lease agreement — a lease agreement for 30-day short-term rentals — is often referred to as “rental agreement.” Lease agreements are typically for a year or more.
Most landlords require tenants to pay security deposits before moving in. Security deposits are limited under most state laws. For instance, California law limits deposits to two months’ rent (or three months if furnished). Alabama law, in contrast, has no limits.
The security deposit is different from paying last month’s rent and must be repaid in full, minus any deductions for repairs or costs associated with cleaning. If you are required to pay a deposit, you should consider signing a statement with your landlord outlining the exact condition of the unit to eliminate disputes at the end of the lease term.
Laws in many states also dictate how soon a landlord must return a tenant’s deposit after moving out, usually 30 days or so. In addition to cleaning and repairs, the landlord may deduct any unpaid rent from the deposit. However, the landlord can’t deduct for what may be considered normal wear and tear. Many states require landlords to provide a detailed list of damages and repairs, as well as a detailed list of the cost of repairs or cleaning.
The Fair Housing Act protects tenants from civil rights violations, including housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, familial status (although this is waived for some retirement communities), and disability. Some states’ landlord-tenant laws also offer anti-discrimination protections on the basis of LGBT identity and marital status.
And if you have a helper animal, such as a seeing-eye dog, a landlord may not refuse to rent to you solely because of a “no pets” policy. Other rights also include:
Landlords also have certain legal rights, mainly related to the protection of their income investment. For example, a landlord may require a monthly payment of rent and the payment of other items specified in the lease agreement, such as utility bills. Landlords also have the right to evict tenants, but it must be for cause (such as nonpayment of rent). They should also give an eviction notice within a reasonable time.
Click on a topic below to learn more about landlord-tenant law.
In the United States, every state has exclusive jurisdiction over the land within its borders. Each state has the power to determine the form and effect of a transfer of real property in its jurisdiction. As a result, state law requirements vary significantly from state to state.
There are generally two types of property: real property and personal property. Most of the legal concepts and rules associated with both types of property are derived from British common law. Back then, “real property,” often shortened to just property, generally referred to land and fixtures upon land. In modern times, real estate has become an American umbrella term for buying, selling, renting and using land.
Specifically, real property is land and ordinarily anything erected on, growing on, or affixed to it, including buildings and crops. The term land, in its general usage, includes not only the face of the earth but everything of a permanent nature over or under it, including minerals, oil, and gases.
Personal property, meanwhile, is anything other than land that can be the subject of ownership, including stocks, money, notes, intellectual property as well as intangible property.
When a piece of property is sold, real estate brokers or agents are often hired by the seller to obtain a buyer for a property. Real estate brokers, agents, and salespeople are licensed and regulated by local state laws.
A real estate agreement between a buyer and seller of real estate is governed by general principles of contract law and individual state laws. The sale or transfer of real property is almost always required to be in writing. It is often required in real estate contracts that the title to the property sold be “marketable.” An attorney or a title insurance company is frequently employed to investigate a title’s legal marketability.
In order to pass the title, a deed with a proper description of the land must be executed and delivered. Some states require that the deed be officially recorded to establish ownership of the property and/or provide notice of its transfer to subsequent purchasers.
In addition to the purchase or sale of lands, states typically regulate the renting or leasing of property for residential or commercial purposes. Such laws cover a range of practices, such as how security deposits are handled, evictions, and more.
State and local laws may also have a substantial effect on how owners use their property. Zoning and environmental laws affect development and construction projects. Further, community or homeowner association rules affect the use of property in many modern residential communities. FindLaw’s Real Estate Center has in-depth information on buying a home, refinancing a home, selling a home, avoiding foreclosure, and more. You can find out what you need to know about renter’s rights, finding the right mortgage, home equity loans, foreclosure, and a host of other real estate issues.
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