Housing: landlord and tenant
Repairs, habitability, notices, deposits, rent, eviction.
What this site has read for this area
54 provisions read for this area, in 29 jurisdictions. Each one is true where it says it is true, and nowhere else on this site. The other 23 jurisdictions have not been read for this area, and no rule is borrowed for them.
- Arizona: In Arizona, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321(D), read 2026-08-21
- California: In California, does my landlord have to keep the place fit to live in?, Cal. Civ. Code § 1941, read 2026-08-20
- California: In California, what makes a rented home legally unfit to live in?, Cal. Civ. Code § 1941.1, read 2026-08-20
- California: In California, what does the law say about security deposit, amount cap?, Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), read 2026-08-21
- California: In California, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1), read 2026-08-21
- California: What did the court decide in Green v. Superior Court?, 10 Cal. 3d 616 (1974), read 2026-08-21
- Colorado: In Colorado, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-103(1), read 2026-08-21
- Connecticut: In Connecticut, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2), read 2026-08-21
- Connecticut: In Connecticut, what does the law say about security deposit, amount cap (tenant 62 or older)?, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b)(2), read 2026-08-21
- DC-Cir: What did the court decide in Javins v. First National Realty Corp.?, 428 F.2d 1071 (D.C. Cir. 1970), read 2026-08-21
- DC-Cir: What did the court decide in Edwards v. Habib?, 397 F.2d 687 (D.C. Cir. 1968), read 2026-08-21
- DC-Cir: What did the court decide in Robinson v. Diamond Housing Corp.?, 463 F.2d 853 (D.C. Cir. 1972), read 2026-08-21
- Florida: In Florida, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline (no claim)?, Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a), read 2026-08-21
- Florida: In Florida, what does the law say about security deposit, notice deadline (landlord claims)?, Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a), read 2026-08-21
- Florida: In Florida, what does the law say about nonpayment of rent, notice before filing?, Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3), read 2026-08-21
- Florida: In Florida, what does the law say about self-help, utility shutoff prohibited?, Fla. Stat. § 83.67(1), read 2026-08-21
- Illinois: In Illinois, what does the law say about security deposit, itemized statement deadline?, 765 ILCS 710/1(a), read 2026-08-21
- Illinois: In Illinois, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, 765 ILCS 710/1(a), read 2026-08-21
- Illinois: What did the court decide in Jack Spring, Inc. v. Little?, 50 Ill. 2d 351 (1972), read 2026-08-21
- Iowa: In Iowa, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Iowa Code § 562A.12(3)(a), read 2026-08-21
- Kansas: In Kansas, what does the law say about security deposit, amount cap?, Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2550(a), read 2026-08-21
- Kansas: In Kansas, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2550(b), read 2026-08-21
- Maine: How much can a landlord charge me as a security deposit?, 14 M.R.S. § 6032, read 2026-08-20
- Maine: When does the landlord have to give my security deposit back, and what happens if they miss the deadline?, 14 M.R.S. § 6033, read 2026-08-20
- Maine: In Maine, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline (written lease)?, 14 M.R.S. § 6033(2)(A), read 2026-08-21
- Maine: In Maine, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline (tenancy at will)?, 14 M.R.S. § 6033(2)(B), read 2026-08-21
- Maryland: In Maryland, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(e)(1), read 2026-08-21
- Maryland: In Maryland, what does the law say about security deposit, itemized list deadline?, Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203(g)(1), read 2026-08-21
- Massachusetts: In Massachusetts, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B(4), read 2026-08-21
- Massachusetts: What did the court decide in Boston Housing Authority v. Hemingway?, 363 Mass. 184 (1973), read 2026-08-21
- Michigan: In Michigan, what does the law say about security deposit, itemized list deadline?, Mich. Comp. Laws § 554.609, read 2026-08-21
- Minnesota: In Minnesota, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, subd. 3(a), read 2026-08-21
- Missouri: In Missouri, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.3, read 2026-08-21
- Montana: In Montana, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Mont. Code Ann. § 70-25-202(1)(a)(i), read 2026-08-21
- Nebraska: In Nebraska, what does the law say about security deposit, amount cap?, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(1), read 2026-08-21
- Nebraska: In Nebraska, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(2), read 2026-08-21
- New Hampshire: In New Hampshire, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540-A:7, I, read 2026-08-21
- New Jersey: What did the court decide in Marini v. Ireland?, 56 N.J. 130 (1970), read 2026-08-21
- New York: Whose money is the security deposit while the landlord is holding it?, N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-103, read 2026-08-20
- New York: Does the landlord have to keep the place liveable?, N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 235-b, read 2026-08-20
- Oregon: In Oregon, what does the law say about security deposit, accounting deadline?, Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300(12), read 2026-08-21
- Oregon: In Oregon, what does the law say about self-help eviction, unlawful ouster?, Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.375, read 2026-08-21
- Pennsylvania: What did the court decide in Pugh v. Holmes?, 486 Pa. 272, 405 A.2d 897 (1979), read 2026-08-21
- South Carolina: In South Carolina, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410(a), read 2026-08-21
- Texas: When does my landlord have to give my security deposit back?, Tex. Prop. Code § 92.103, read 2026-08-20
- Texas: What happens if the landlord keeps my deposit and won't give it back?, Tex. Prop. Code § 92.109, read 2026-08-20
- US: What did the court decide in Greene v. Lindsey?, 456 U.S. 444 (1982), read 2026-08-21
- US: What did the court decide in Lindsey v. Normet?, 405 U.S. 56 (1972), read 2026-08-21
- Vermont: In Vermont, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, 9 V.S.A. § 4461(c), read 2026-08-21
- Vermont: What did the court decide in Hilder v. St. Peter?, 144 Vt. 150, 478 A.2d 202 (1984), read 2026-08-21
- Virginia: In Virginia, what does the law say about security deposit, amount cap?, Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A), read 2026-08-21
- Virginia: In Virginia, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Va. Code § 55.1-1226(A), read 2026-08-21
- Washington: In Washington, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Rev. Code Wash. § 59.18.280(1)(a), read 2026-08-21
- Wisconsin: In Wisconsin, what does the law say about security deposit, return deadline?, Wis. Stat. § 704.28(4), read 2026-08-21
When a rule is read it will appear here with the section it rests on, the jurisdiction it is true in, and the date it was read. See the reading state of all 52 jurisdictions.
What is worth documenting, whatever your state
This part does not depend on any state's law. It is what a record of this kind usually has to show, and it is the part people most often cannot reconstruct afterwards.
- the date you first told the landlord, and how you told them
- photographs, each kept as the original file
- every written exchange, in full rather than summarised
- what was promised, by whom, and on what date
- what it cost you, with the receipt