Renter rights guides

Security deposits: your renter rights

Most states cap deposits, limit deductions to real damage beyond normal wear and tear, and require an…

Eviction and notices: what to do

Only a court can evict you — never a landlord changing locks or shutting off utilities. If you get a notice,…

Repairs and habitability: your rights

Your home must be livable — heat, water, working plumbing, and safe conditions. Report problems in writing…

Rent increases: how much and how often

During a fixed lease, rent generally can't change. For month-to-month, increases need proper advance notice.…

Landlord entry and privacy

Your landlord generally must give reasonable advance notice before entering, except in a genuine emergency.…

Fees, late fees, and rent payments

Fees generally have to be in your lease and follow state law. A landlord usually can't add a brand-new…

Lease termination and ending a tenancy

Ending a lease early — or a landlord ending yours — follows rules set by your state and your lease. Some…

Landlord retaliation: your protections

In many states it's illegal for a landlord to retaliate — raise rent, cut services, or move to evict —…

Roommates and co-tenants

On most shared leases, co-tenants are “jointly and severally” liable — each can be held responsible for the…

ESA and service animals: housing rights

Fair-housing law generally requires landlords to consider reasonable accommodations, including for assistance…

Breaking a lease: options and risks

Breaking a lease early usually has consequences unless a specific legal right applies. Know your state's…

Move-in and move-out documentation

Good records win renter disputes. Photograph the unit at move-in and move-out, keep messages in writing, save…

Corporate landlord and property manager problems

You have the same tenant rights with a large property-management company or corporate landlord as with an…