Landlord-Tenant Laws
Time-Period: Guests become Tenants when they stay in a rental property for over two-weeks in under 6 months.[1]
Time-Period: Guests become Tenants when they stay in a rental property for over two-weeks in under 6 months.[1]
https://simpleforms.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Kansas-Room-Rental-Lease-Agreement.pdf
Residential Lease AgreementStandard 1-year Lease Term |
|
Simple 1-Page Lease AgreementSimple Lease Agreement (One-Page) |
|
Commercial Lease AgreementUsed for retail spaces, office buildings, warehouses, and industrial facilities. |
|
Condominium Lease AgreementUsed for renting condo units. |
|
Equipment Rental AgreementUsed by Owners renting equipment to Lessees. |
|
Family Member Rental Lease AgreementUsed by relatives renting from family members. |
|
Hunting Land LeaseThis form is used to lease land for hunting purposes. |
|
Month-to-Month Lease AgreementTenancy at will with renewals every 30 days. |
|
Parking Space Lease AgreementAgreement to Lease Parking Space Download: PDF | Word (.docx) |
|
Rent-to-Own Conveyance Lease AgreementA lease that includes an option for the tenant to purchase the property. |
|
Room (Roommate) Rental Lease AgreementShared living arrangements. A binding contract outlining responsibilities and agreements between co-tenants. |
|
Short-Term(Vacation) LeaseUsed for leases less than 30 days. |
|
Storage Space (Unit) Rental LeaseRent storage space in exchange for rent payments. |
|
Sublease AgreementUsed to Sublet units with landlord approval. |
|
Weekly Lease Agreement7-day lease periods. |
A written and signed rental lease agreement protects both the Landlord and the Tenant by clearly outlining the rules and responsibilities of both parties during the lease term.
A Residential Lease Agreement is a contract for renting a home, outlining the landlord’s and tenant’s rights and responsibilities. It is used for apartments, houses, and condos. A residential lease is also known as the following:
The Tenant must list any occupant(s) (if any) staying in the rental unit.
Once the final decision is made on the lease type, the next step is to prepare the rental property for showings – in person and online. This step is when a cleaning company or a painter fixes interior and/or exterior touch-ups. The plumber might also need to be contacted if a faucet leaks or a toilet is clogged.
A trip to Lowe’s or Home Depot might be a good idea for light bulbs, smoke detectors (including the compatible batteries), and having extra keys made (think extra keys for Lock-box, Brokers, and Tenants).
Double-check that all of the essentials needed to make your home 100% habitable are present prior to showing or posting any videos or pictures of the rental space online or in print ads.
The third step is finding and vetting potential Tenant(s). This is done by listing the property online, including entering information in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). At this point, you may consider hiring a Real Estate Broker to help with the leasing process to avoid any financial or legal issues.
Advertising: Advertising rental properties depends on the local market and the target audiences. Landlords or property owners can choose from different advertising platforms, but it’s essential to be transparent about the property’s condition, updated photos, and prices to simplify the rental process. Also, consider hiring a real estate agent to manage the rental process.
A rental application serves to uncover three major concerns for an owner of property about a Tenant:
If a Tenant passes all three checks, then verify the Tenant’s employment and means of paying rent. Landlords have the legal right to ask for government-approved identification, a social security number, and an applicant’s legal status.
The Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3601, prohibits landlords and property owners from discriminating (denying) prospective tenants the ability to rent based on the following criteria:
Ways to Screen a Tenant:
Depending on the property owner, one may require a rental application from the applicant before or after viewing the property. There could be disclosures you will need to offer each tenant before they view the property, depending on the state.
The most common disclosure the federal government requires is the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure, which requires owners of property built before 1978 to give prospective tenants a pamphlet (PDF)↗.
Landlords and property owners should be particular when asking for references from a prospective tenant. Asking for personal friends or family as references serves little use. An owner must abide by no laws or limitations when contacting references. When asking for references, it’s best to ask for the following contacts:
A landlord can approve a tenant for any reason. However, when rejecting a tenant from occupancy, the landlord must give the reason (which must be legal). A rejected application is due to a negative report on a credit report.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act↗requires property owners/landlords to disclose the information as to why a rental application was denied. Landlords must provide the denied applicant with the following:
Leases can be signed online using DocuSign↗ or eSign↗. If the lease is signed in person, having the lease notarized is recommended. Property owners do not need to be named on the lease if a property management company controls the property. Verbal agreements are not legally binding.
Most U.S. states follow the rules set out by HUD↗, a federal department that administers laws and regulations regarding housing.
Source: § 880.608
The Tenant(s) have the right to occupy the property on the start date stated within the lease agreement unless otherwise written and agreed upon. Once the tenant has begun to occupy the property, the owner loses their right to enter it without proper notice. The lease agreement termination will be outlined in the agreement.
A lease break clause lets a Tenant end their lease early under certain conditions.
State | Maximum Deposit | Notice Period | Sources |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 1 month’s rent | 60 days | § 8-8-15(b)§ 35-9A-201(a), § 35-9A-201(b) |
Alaska | 2 months’ rent | 14-30 days | § 34.03.070(a), § 34.03.070(g) |
Arizona | 1.5 months’ rent | 14 days | § 33-1321 |
Arkansas | 2 months’ rent | 60 days | § 18-16-304, § 18-16-305 |
California | 1 month’s rent | 21 days | § 1950.5 |
Colorado | 2 months’ rent | 1-2 months | § 38-12-102.5, § 38-12-103 |
Connecticut | 1-2 months’ rent | 21-15 days | § 47a-21 |
Delaware | 1 month’s rent | 20 days | § 1301A |
Florida | No Limit | 15-30 days | § 83.49(3)(a) |
Georgia | 2 months rent | 30 days | § 44-7-30.1, § 44-7-34 |
Hawaii | 1 month’s rent | 14 days | § 521-44 |
Idaho | No limit | 21-30 days | § 6-321 |
Illinois | No limit | 30-45 days | § 765 ILCS 710 |
Indiana | No limit | 45 days | § 32-31-3-12 |
Iowa | 2 months’ rent | 30 days | § 562A.12 |
Kansas | 1 month’s rent (unfurnished), 1.5 months’ rent (furnished) | 14-30 days | § 58-2550 |
Kentucky | No limit | 60 days | § 383.580(6) |
Louisiana | No limit | 1 month | § 9:3251§ 6032 |
Maine | 2 months’ rent | 21-30 days | § 6032, § 6033 |
Maryland | 1 month’s rent | 45 days | § 8–203 |
Massachusetts | 1 month’s rent | 30 days | Chapter 186, Section 15B |
Michigan | 1.5 months’ rent | 30 days | § 554.602, § 554.609 |
Minnesota | No limit | 3 weeks | § 504B.178 |
Mississippi | No limit | 45 days | § 89-8-21 |
Missouri | 2 months’ rent | 30 days | § 535.300 |
Montana | No limit | 10-30 days | § 70-25-202 |
Nebraska | 1 month’s rent (excluding pet fees) | 14 days | § 76-1416 |
Nevada | 3 months’ rent | 30 days | NRS 118A.242 |
New Hampshire | 1 month’s rent or $100 (whichever is greater) | 20-30 days | RSA 540-A:6, RSA 540-A:7 |
New Jersey | 1.5 months’ rent | 30 days | § 46:8-21.2, § 46:8-21.1 |
New Mexico | 1.5 months’ rent | 30 days | § 47-8-18 |
New York | 1 month’s rent | 14 days | § 7-108(e) |
North Carolina | 1.5-2 months’ rent | 30-60 days | § 42-51, § 42-52 |
North Dakota | 1 month’s rent (excluding pet deposits) | 30 days | § 47-16-07.1 |
Ohio | No limit | 30 days | § 5321.16 |
Oklahoma | No limit | 45 days | § 41-115(B) |
Oregon | No limit | 31. days | § 90.300 |
Pennsylvania | 2 months’ rent | 30 days | § 250.511a, § 250.512 |
South Carolina | No limit | 30 days | § 27-40-410 |
South Dakota | 1 month’s rent | 14-45 days | § 43-32-6.1, § 43-32-24 |
Tennessee | No limit | 30 days | § 66-28-301 |
Texas | No limit | 30 days | § 92.103 |
Utah | No limit | 30 days | § 57-17-3 |
Vermont | No limit | 14-16 days | § 4461 |
Virginia | 2 months’ rent | 45 days | § 55.1-1226(A) |
Washington | No limit | 30 days | § 59.18.280 |
West Virginia | No limit | 45-60 days | § 37-6A-2 |
Wisconsin | No limit | 21 days | § 134.06 |
Wyoming | No limit | 15-30 days | § 1-21-1208(A) |
State | Maximum Fee | Laws |
---|---|---|
Alabama | $30 | § 8-8-15(b) |
Alaska | $30 | § 09.68.115(2) |
Arizona | No Maximum | N/A |
Arkansas | $30 | § 5-37-307, § 5-37-304 |
California | $25 (Plus $35 for each additional bad check provided.) | § 1719. |
Colorado | $20 | § 13-21-109 |
Connecticut | N/A | § 52-565a(d) |
Delaware | $40 | § 1301A |
Florida | $25: For checks, $50 or less. $30: For checks over $50 but less than $300. $40 or 5% of the total value (whichever is greater): For checks over $300. |
§ 68.065 |
Georgia | $30 or 5% of the rent check amount | § 13-6-15 (b) |
Hawaii | N/A | N/A |
Idaho | The total amount of the check plus any fees. | § 28-22-1051 |
Illinois | The amount of the check plus any fees. | 720 ILCS § 5/17-1(E) |
Indiana | $27.50 or 5% of check amount. | § 35-43-5-5 |
Iowa | Amount of check and any fees. | § 714.1(6) |
Kansas | $30 | § 60-2610 |
Kentucky | $50 | § 514.040 |
Lousiana | $15 plus any bank fees. | § 14:71 |
Maine | Check amount and bank fees. | § 14-6071 |
Maryland | N/A | N/A |
Massachusetts | $30 | § 62C-35 |
Michigan | $25 (if rent check is paid within 7 days); $35 (if rent check is paid within 30 days. | § 600.2952 |
Minnesota | N/A | N/A |
Mississippi | $30 | § 97-19-75 |
Missouri | $25 | § 570.120 |
Montana | $30 | § 27-1-717 |
Nebraska | $10 | § 28-611 |
Nevada | N/A | N/A |
New Hampshire | N/A | § 638-4 |
New Jersey | $100 or 3 times the check amount. | § 2A-32A-1 |
New Mexico | N/A | N/A |
New York | $20 | § 5-328 |
North Carolina | $25 | § 25-3-506 |
North Dakota | $30 | § 6-8-16.2a |
Ohio | $30 or 10% of the Check’s Amount | § 1319.16 |
Oklahoma | N/A | N/A |
Oregon | $35 | § 30.701 |
Pennsylvania | $50 | § 18.4105e |
South Carolina | $30 | § 6-42-3 |
South Dakota | $40 | § 57A-3-421 |
Tennessee | $30 | § 47-29-102 |
Texas | N/a | N/A |
Utah | $20 | § 7-15-2 |
Vermont | $5 | § 2022 |
Virginia | $50 | § 8.01-27.1 |
Washington | $40 | § 62A.3-515(b)(1) |
West Virginia | $25 | § 61-3-39e |
Wisconsin | N/A | N/A |
Wyoming | $30 | § 1-1-115 |
Cannot discrimination based on race, religion, or disability. (hud.gov)
Must include accessibility and rights for individuals with disabilities (reasonable accommodations and allowing service animals on property). (ada.gov)
Must be included for homes built before 1978. (epa.gov)
Disclosures when checking credit reports for screening tenants. (ftc.gov)
The roommate agreement must outline how personal information and data is protected. This is part of the Truth in Lending Act. (occ.treas.gov)
URLTA provides guidelines for leases and tenant rights and covers security deposits, repairs, and maintenance rules. (nchh.org)
Protects tenants from retaliation for asserting rights; the agreement cannot penalize roommates for exercising legal rights. (nhlp.org)
State | Required Notice | Statute |
Alabama | 2 days | § 35-9A-303 |
Alaska | 24 hours | § 34.03.140 |
Arizona | 48 hours | § 33-1343 |
Arkansas | N/A | N/A |
California | 24 hours (non-emergency), 48 hours (move-out inspection) | § 1954 |
Colorado | N/A | N/A |
Connecticut | Reasonable notice | § 47a-16 |
Delaware | 48 hours | Title 25 § 5509 |
Florida | 24 hours | § 83.53 |
Georgia | N/A | N/A |
Hawaii | 2 days | § 521-53 |
Idaho | N/A | N/A |
Illinois | N/A | N/A |
Indiana | Reasonable notice | § 32-31-5-6 |
Iowa | 24 hours | § 562A.19 |
Kansas | Reasonable notice | § 58-2557 |
Kentucky | 2 days | § 383.615 |
Louisiana | N/A | N/A |
Maine | 24 hours | § 6025 |
Maryland | N/A | N/A |
Massachusetts | Reasonable notice | Sanitary Code (410.810) |
Michigan | N/A | N/A |
Minnesota | “Reasonable notice” (no less than 24 hours) | § 504B.211 |
Mississippi | N/A | N/A |
Missouri | N/A | N/A |
Montana | 24 hours | § 70-24-312 |
Nebraska | 24 hours | § 76-1423 |
Nevada | 24 hours | NRS 118A.330 |
New Hampshire | Reasonable notice | RSA 540-A:3 |
New Jersey | 1 day | § 5:10-5.1 |
New Mexico | 24 hours | § 47-8-24 |
New York | N/A | N/A |
North Carolina | N/A | N/A |
North Dakota | Reasonable notice | § 47-16-07.3 |
Ohio | 24 hours | § 5321.04 |
Oklahoma | 1 day | § 41-128 |
Oregon | 24 hours | § 90.322 |
Pennsylvania | N/A | N/A |
Rhode Island | 2 days | § 34-18-26 |
South Carolina | 24 hours | § 27-40-530 |
South Dakota | 24 hours | § 43-32-32 |
Tennessee | 24 hours | § 66-28-403 |
Texas | N/A | N/A |
Utah | 24 hours | § 57-22-4 |
Vermont | 48 hours | § 4460 |
Virginia | 24 hours | § 55.1-1229(A) |
Washington | 2 days (repairs), 1 day (showings) | § 59.18.150 |
West Virginia | N/A | N/A |
Wisconsin | Advance notice | § 704.05(2) |
Wyoming | N/A | N/A |
Sign up with USPS Informed Delivery (usps.com) to receive mail virtually, no matter where you are. Never miss a Notice in the mail again, as these Notices can be time-sensitive.
Answer: A lease transfer doesn’t usually count as breaking a rental agreement. Always double-check with the written lease agreement contract that you signed.
Answer: Tenants’ rights without a formal lease agreement depend from state to state. Read our basic guideline for more information.
Answer: A rental agreement is a month-long contract that is similar to a lease in many ways. It’s different from a lease in that it is automatically renewed.
Answer: Laws are in place that override the lease agreement where the tenants can break the contract.
Answer: Some lease agreements are fake; here are the top ways to spot one: the landlord asks for a large deposit, the landlord puts time pressure on you to sign the agreement, and the lease agreement does not allow you to legally get out of the lease respectfully.
Answer: Fannie Mae’s tools and resources are free, including the 2025 selling guide PDF.
Answer: Landlords usually require a 30-day notice, although it’s best to check with local laws and your lease agreement. The lessor and lessee MUST sign a letter stating the cancellation.
Answer: Although this type of lease mostly pertains to commercial property, it’s when the tenant agrees to pay for all expenses/bills of the rental property, including taxes, insurance, and maintenance.