How to Find Laws on Rental Rights

Knowing a state's landlord-tenant laws protects your rights and enables you to defend yourself if the landlord is breaking the law. Rental laws differ in each state, but various options exist for locating landlord-tenant laws. Check your state's landlord-tenant laws before challenging a landlord to ensure you have legal rights in your particular situation.

Instructions

1. Visit the official website of the U.S. Department of Housing and Development (HUD). HUD has a list of government and legal aid websites with rental rights and landlord-tenant laws for each state. Select your state, pick a website and view rental laws. Visit more than one website to find additional rental law guides.

2. Go to the official website of your state. State websites --- such as websites for state legislatures --- have housing-related links, resources and copies of rental rights laws and guides.

3. Contact a housing agency. Housing agencies assist renters by making rental guides available. Visit the official HUD website to view a list of certified housing agencies near you.

4. Visit the official website of your state's bar association. Some state bar associations have state-specific rental rights guides, manuals or pamphlets available.

5. Visit the the public library's main branch. Ask the librarian to show you the state law books. Look through the books to find rental rights law. Each state is different, but the laws are commonly under the "Landlord and Tenant" section of the "Real Property" laws.

References

• Maine: Housing and Utilities
• The State Bar of California: What Should I Know Before I Rent?
• New York State Legislature: RPP -- Real Property -- Article 7 -- Landlord and Tenant

Resources

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Tenants Rights
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies
• "Forbes"; "Shady Landlord Schemes And How To Fight Back"; C. Steiner and M. Farrell; December 2010