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Timestamp: 2019-04-23 18:15:38+00:00

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Rental laws in Ohio are covered in Ohio’s Revised Code in Chapter 5321 (titled “Landlords and Tenants”) and Chapter 5323 (titled Residental Rental Property). Some additional relevant information is in Chapter 1923, “Forcible Entry and Detainer,” and Chapter 1319, “Miscellaneous Credit Transactions.” This article aims to give you an overview of the major landlord-tenant laws in Ohio, but for the most up-to-date information, you should consult the code of Ohio itself or legal counsel. In this article, we’ll cover security deposit rules; lease, rent, and fee rules; notice and entry rules; and required disclosures and notes. We’ll close with some information on smalls claims courts, courts in Ohio, and realtor associations.
Meanwhile, the tenant is responsible for providing the landlord with a forwarding or new address for delivery of the itemized list. If the landlord withholds the deposit but doesn’t provide the itemized list, the tenant can sue; however, they can only recover damages and attorney fees if they have provided the landlord with a forwarding or new address.
In Ohio, the lease determines the amount of rent due and any late fees. There are no statutes covering whether a tenant can repair the property and deduct rent, any abandonment or early termination fees, or if a landlord must attempt to mitigate damages. If the landlord doesn’t provide essential services, the tenant can withhold rent. Essential services are covered in sections 5321.04 and include heating and hot water.
Should the tenant decide to withhold rent for a lack of essential services, they must notify the landlord. If the landlord doesn’t remedy the situation within a “reasonable time” or 30 days, whichever is sooner, then the tenant can deposit the rent instead with the “clerk of the municipal or county court having jurisdiction in the territory in which the residential premises are located,” according to section 5231.07. They can also apply to the court to remedy the situation, and while they wait, they may be able to pay reduced rent. The court can also make the landlord use any rent toward remedying the problem. As a final option, the tenant can end the rental agreement.
Two housing situations are not covered by the previous paragraph: housing occupied by students and housing where the landlord “is a party to rental agreements that cover three or fewer dwelling units” and provides the tenant notice of that fact.
There are no statues covering rent grace periods, rent increase notices, or prepaid rent.
Section 1319.16 covers check fees. The fee on a returned check cannot exceed the greater of $30 or 10 percent of the check’s value.
If an end date is noted in the lease, then no notice is required: The lease just ends. But section 5321.17 contains provisions for short-term leases. The landlord or tenant can end a week-to-week lease with seven days’ notice, and end a month-to-month lease with thirty days’ notice.
Section 1923.04 covers the notice requirements if a landlord wants to terminate a tenancy for a lease violation or nonpayment. The landlord must give a three-day written notice. The notice must conspicuously contain the following wording:””You are being asked to leave the premises. If you do not leave, an eviction action may be initiated against you. If you are in doubt regarding your legal rights and obligations as a tenant, it is recommended that you seek legal assistance.” Meanwhile, section 1923.02 demands that a landlord begin eviction proceedings if the landlord “has actual knowledge of or has reasonable cause” to suspect a violation of a controlled-substance ordnance, whether by the tenant or someone the tenant has allowed on the premises.
Sections 5321.04 and 5321.05 cover entry rules for landlords and tenants, respectively. For non-emergency maintenance and repairs, landlords must provide 24 hours’ notice and enter at a reasonable time. No notice is required in emergencies. The tenant can’t block the landlord from entering the unit to show it to perspective tenants, within reason.
Section 5321.15 stipulates that lockouts and utility shutoffs are not permitted by the landlord.
Stipulations on what rental agreements must contain are present in 5321.18. The key point is that “every written rental agreement for residential premises shall contain the name and address of the owner and the name and address of the owner’s agent, if any.” In the case of oral agreements, that information must be put in writing and given to the tenant at the time of move-in.
The property owner has further filing obligations, as present in sections 5323.02, 5323.04, and 5323.99. With the county auditor, the owner has to file their phone number, name, and address. If the owner has an agent, they must also file the same information for the agent. Along with that, the owner has to file the property’s address and parcel number. All of this becomes public information. If the owner fails to provide or update that information, the auditor can apply a fine between $50 and $150.
If the landlord knows of any hazards caused by lead paint, they must disclose this information to the tenant. Per the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s lead disclosure rule, landlords must also provide tenants with an EPA-approved pamphlet “on identifying and controlling lead-based paint hazards” and “provide any records and reports on lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards which are available to the seller or landlord.” This affects most housing that was constructed before 1978.
The limit in Ohio small-claims court is $3,000, as per section 1925.02. Eviction cases do not occur in small-claims court, instead taking place in a county or municipal court, as stipulated in 1923.01. The statute of limitations on written contracts is eight years (2305.6).
Relevant court and legal entities are the Supreme Court of Ohio and Ohio Judicial System, the Ohio Attorney General, and the Ohio State Bar Association, the last of which can be a source of legal aid. Other legal-aid sources include the legal aid societies of Columbus, Cleveland, and Greater Cincinnati; Ohio Legal Services, which assists low-income Ohio residents; Legal Aid of Western Ohio; Southeastern Ohio Legal Services; and Community Legal Aid, which focuses on northeastern Ohio.
Ohio’s main professional realtor group is the Ohio Association of Realtors.
This article will contain an overview of the relevant laws and regulations pertinent to the landlord/tenant relationship in the state of Mississippi. The information is taken from both official state sources and official municipal sources, and it represents the most current available data at the time of this preparation.
It should be borne in mind however, that state and municipal regulations change frequently, so the possibility always exists for any given statute to be superseded. For any specific questions you may have about information within, links are provided at the end of the article for you to contact the appropriate legal authority.
There are currently no Mississippi existing statutes regarding the following: maximum security deposits, pet deposits, non-refundable fees, receipts of deposit, deposit record-keeping, separate security deposit bank accounts, and security deposit interest.
There are currently no Mississippi statutes regarding the following: abandonment or early termination fee, landlord recovery of attorney or court fees, tenant withholding of rent for failure to provide essential services of habitation, pre-paid rent, grace period for rent, notice of rent increase, and any requirement upon the landlord to reduce damages to lessee, e.g. attempting to re-rent the premises.
There are currently no Mississippi statutes for the following: date for move-out inspection, allowable entry for maintenance and repairs, emergency entry without notice, and pesticide usage notice.
Eviction cases are allowed in small claims courts in the state of Mississippi, although some cases are also heard in Justice Court. The monetary limit on small claims actions is $3500, and the statute of limitations on lease contracts is four years, while the statute of limitations on oral contracts is three years.
The Mississippi Attorney General can provide overall information about the court system, and can direct inquiries to the appropriate legal level, as can the State of Mississippi Judiciary. For specific information on small claims, the Mississippi Small Claims Court can be consulted, and for higher level inquiries, Mississippi Justice Court will be able to satisfy information needs. State attorneys are listed in the Mississippi Lawyer Directory and services they provide can be researched in Mississippi Legal Services.
There are several real estate groups which operate either state-wide or in certain sections of the state, including the Mississippi Real Estate Commission, the Mississippi Realtors, the Central Mississippi Realtors, the Hattiesburg Association of Realtors, and the Gulf Coast Association of Realtors. Landlord associations also exist in the state, such as the Greater Gulf Coast Apartment Association and the Jackson Real Estate Investment Group.
Whether you’re a tenant or a landlord, there are several statutes in West Virginia that govern tenancy and leasing. Each state has their own statutes, but many adopt similar or identical rules. Some issues have no statutes on one state while another will have passed regulations. Knowing the rights and responsibilities of both parties can make your renting experience smoother and more enjoyable. Although we discuss a number of statutes, linking to the official source. If you are having issues, we encourage you to become informed and then seek legal advise. While the list of regulations we include is extensive, it is not all inclusive, so as always, you should do your own research.
That said, in West Virginia, there are several laws that regulate landlord tenant issues, rights and responsibilities. We have used the following sources in researching these rules:Tenant and Landlord regulations can be found in West Virginia Statute § 37-6-1 to 37-6-30, “Remedies for the Unlawful Occupation of Residential Rental Property” AKA Eviction rules are listed in West Virginia Statute § 55-3A-1 to 55-3A-3, Miscellaneous rules West Virginia Statute § 55-2-1 to 55-2-22.
Do I Need a Lease?
Although you can rent without a lease, it is unwise to do so. A lease is a written contract that protects both the tenant and landlord. Leases will contain security deposit amounts, pet deposits, fees, rent amount and due date. Also included may be a move in walk through checklist that will be invaluable when moving out if there are issues, such as a stain on the carpet or other imperfection. A lease may include a predetermined date of termination. Having everything that is required of the both parties in the written form of a lease can save you a lot of problems during your tenancy and after moving out. You can always contact your local West Virginia Association of Realtors with any questions you may have regarding leasing.
West Virginia regulates certain aspects that are contained in the lease, such as late fees, which are allowable as agreed to in the lease § 37-6A-2(b)(1). Returned check fees are allowable up to $25 § 61-3-39e. Interestingly enough, there are no statutes regulating rent, the date it is due, notice of increase, grace periods, prepaid rent. Additionally there are no statutes that govern withholding rent by the tenant for repairs or allowing tenant to withhold rent if the landlord fails to supply basic essentials such as water, heat and trash removal.
There are no statutes governing court costs and attorney’s fees for landlords that may incur such expenses or for early termination of lease and abandonment of the property fees. Regarding mitigation of damages to lessee and re-rental of abandoned property, the landlord has the right to hold the lessee responsible for rent for the remainder of the lease, or may re-rent the property. If re-renting, the landlord must inform the tenant of this intention. However, the tenant will still be responsible for the remaining term of the lease, and for the difference between and rent received from re-renting. If the landlord holds the tenant responsible for the rest of the lease, the tenant may recover their possessions once any unpaid rent is paid and any other obligation is met as outlined in the lease § 37-6-7, § 37-6-8.
The state of West Virginia makes no statutes regarding security deposit maximum, security deposit interest, pet deposits, receipt of deposit or regarding holding deposits in a separate bank account. Non-refundable deposits are allowed under statute § 37-6A-1(14) as long as it is agreed upon by both parties in writing. West Virginia also regulates return of the security deposit, requiring the deposit be returned within 60 days of vacating the rental property or 45 days after the property is leased to a new tenant, which ever is shorter with statute § 37-6A-1(7). In the event that damages are present that will cost more than the deposit and will require, the landlord should provide the tenant with a written notice within the time allowed to return the deposit. Once notice has been given, the landlord then has an additional fifteen more days to provide written description and charges incurred according to statute § 37-6A-2(c).
West Virginia restricts the use of security deposits with statute § 37-6A-2(b), allowing them to be used for unpaid rent, including reasonable late fees as agreed in the lease. Damages caused by noncompliance with the Tenant’s duties, but not normal wear and tear can be taken from the deposit. Unpaid utility bills that the landlord may be held responsible for, again as outlined in the lease can be covered by the deposit. West Virginia also allows landlords to withhold the cost to move and store tenants possessions. There are two statutes requiring written description and itemization of damages and costs; § 37-6A-2(a), § 37-6A-2(c).
West Virginia statute § 37-6A-3 requires landlords to keep records of security deposits and monies kept from said deposits for one year after tenancy ends. Landlords must allow the tenant or an authorized person acting for the tenant to examine the records within 72 hours of receiving a written request to review the records.
Should the landlord fail to comply with statutes governing the security deposit, failing to act in good faith or purposely withholding the deposit without showing cause, the tenant is entitled to bring suit asking for one and a half times the amount of the deposit that was held plus the deposit itself. Any rent that is owed will be withheld from the amount awarded to the tenant § 37-6A-5. Recovery is limited to $5,000.00 in the Northern and Southern West Virginia small claims courts.
Notices given to end tenancy are regulated under statute § 37-6-5. As with most fixed end date tenancies, no notice is required. On month to month tenancy, a 30 day notice is required and on weekly or shorter tenancies, a 7 day notice is required. On a yearly lease, a three month’s notice is required, or as otherwise specified in the lease. All notices must be written.
There are no statutes regarding notices for move in/out inspections in relation to date and time. There are also no notices regarding entry to the rental property regardless whether it is for maintenance, pest control, showings, emergency, non-emergency or during an extended absence. Although there is no statute, reasonable notice of 24 hours is expected.
Finally, there are a number of statutes prohibiting lockouts and utility shut offs that protect tenants from such tactics § 55-3A.
There other miscellaneous regulations and rules that both landlord and tenant should be familiar with. For example, there are rules governing the responsibilities of the landlord Landlord’s Duties as listed in Statute § 37-6-30. Although there is no law governing the tenants rights and responsibilities, they are outlined in the guide for Landlord and Tenant Rights and Responsibilities.
The landlord must disclose lead paint in the home and give the tenant a pamphlet regarding lead and the risks of exposure.
Rules regarding landlord-tenant relationships are governed by a collection of different state statutes in the Washington, D.C. area. One unique quality of Washington, D.C. law that both landlords and tenants need to be aware of is that the local government draws a distinction between dwellings classified as rooming houses, boarding houses, apartments, and houses that are specifically used as profit-making rental properties. There are separate statutes for each of these types of dwellings that have some differences in their terms, which is something that many other states do not do.
Another unique quality of Washington, D.C. law is that while there is a local mayor and city council, Congress actually has the final authority over city law and has the ability to directly overturn these local laws. There is thus an element of direct federal control over Washington, D.C. law that is not present in other states. The “home rule” prevents Congress from implementing new statutes in the city, but Congress is free to overturn them at any time and can also remove elected officials from their positions.
What Laws Cover Landlord-Tenant Relationships in the Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. Municipal Regulations 14 is the primary document that landlords and tenants will want to familiarize themselves with. Sec. 300 to 311 covers general landlord/tenant relationships and rules. Sec. 1000 to 1099 covers the rules for rooming houses, Sec. 1100 to 1199 covers the rules for boarding houses, and Sec. 1200 to 1299 covers the rules for apartments. While identifying an apartment or a rental house is fairly self-evident, what exactly makes a dwelling a rooming or boarding house? Under the city statutes, both a rooming and boarding house have at least five tenants who sleep on the premises and to whom some sort of meals are served. However, it is considered a rooming house if the occupants are not members of the immediate family of the owner and do not have exclusive control of their accommodations. Otherwise it is a boarding house. The licensing process for both is virtually identical, however.
Some sections of Washington, D.C. Code 11 to 16 and 42 are also relevant to landlords and tenants. 42-3201 to 42-3610 covers real property and rental housing, while 11-1301 to 11-1323 and 16-3901 to 16-3910 cover small claims and conciliation. Unlike many states, a business license is required to operate any kind of rental housing in Washington DC. The licensing process varies slightly depending on what type of housing the rental unit is. The local government also charges the landlord a small fee for each rental unit they operate.
Regs. 14 308-311 govern security deposits in the Washington, D.C. Landlords may only ask the equivalent of one month’s rent for a security deposit. The landlord must place the security deposit in an interest-bearing account within 30 days of receiving it, but they are only required to pay out interest to the tenant if they stay in the dwelling for 12 months or more. The interest must be paid once every six months, and at the end of each year the landlord must also disclose where the deposit is currently being held and what the prevailing interest rate was for each six-month period that interest is owed in.
There are no statutes regarding pet deposits, advance notice of deposit withholding or record keeping of deposit withholding. Landlords are required to provide a receipt for all payments to them by tenants, however, including any and all deposits. The one exception is if the payment is made with a personal check that specifically notes the date and the purpose of the payment; in this case the canceled check serves as the receipt under Regs. 14 306.
If a landlord violates these regulations, the tenant is entitled to the full return of the deposit plus any interest earned, and the landlord can be fined up to $5000 for each incident. Landlords may also not ask a deposit of tenants who have occupied their current unit since July 17, 1985 or prior.
There is no statute establishing a default due date for rent in the Washington, D.C., nor are there statutes on late fees, returned check fees, prepaid rent or a rental grace period. If a landlord wishes to increase the rent, however, they must first file notice with the Rental Accommodations and Conversion Division as stipulated by Code 42.
Tenants may repair and deduct rent only for the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms. There is no statute on withholding rent for failure to provide essential utilities. Landlords may recover court and attorney fees, and there is no statute about making an attempt to mitigate damages.
If a tenant agrees to move out at the end of a lease, then refuses to quit the property when they are supposed to, the landlord is entitled to collect double rent from them for the rest of the time that they remain in the unit.
Both lease terminations by the tenant and notices of eviction by the landlord generally require 30 days notice in the Washington, D.C., as explained in Code 42 and Regs. 14 310. If the landlord is moving to evict the tenant, the tenant has 30 days to remedy the situation by either paying the owed rent or rectifying the lease violation. Landlords do have the right to terminate the lease immediately if there is evidence that the tenant has engaged in illegal activity within the dwelling, however.
There are no statutes on notice prior to entry, lockouts or utility shutoffs. However, a state Supreme Court case (Simpson vs Lee) has set precedent that lockouts are not allowed, but utility shutoffs may be allowed under certain circumstances.
Regs. 14 300-308 and Code 42 cover the majority of required disclosures. Landlords are required to provide the tenant with a copy of anything the tenant has signed, including the lease, within seven days of their signing it. The landlord must also provide the tenant with a copy of Chapter 3: Landlord and Tenant Laws from Regs. 14 at the outset of each tenancy. The landlord must also clearly disclose what each payment and deposit is for and the terms under which the payment was made in writing.
The Washington, D.C. has some legal protections for tenants who are victims of domestic violence. Landlords may request verification of this status, and once it is provided the tenant can give 14 days notice to break any lease provided it is within 90 days of a domestic violence incident. Landlords must also change the locks if requested by the tenant, who then has 45 days to reimburse the landlord for the cost of the new locks.
Retaliation by landlords for tenant complaints is illegal under Washington, D.C. law. Retaliation is assumed if the landlord raises the rent, terminates a lease, reduces services or refuses to renew a lease within six months after the tenant asserts their rights to the landlord, makes a complaint with a government agency or gets involved with a tenant’s organization, according to Code 42.
The small claims limit in Washington, D.C. is $5,000. Eviction cases are not heard in small claims court. Landlords and tenants can file a small claims case by filling out Statement of Claims and Information Sheet forms at the Small Claims Clerk’s Office.
While Iowa State regulations and laws regarding the relationship between landlords and tenants may vary from county to county, and certainly from year to year, this article will contain a fairly comprehensive overview of all such regulations presently in effect. Should you have a specific question about some aspect of landlord/tenant law which is not documented herein, it would probably be to your advantage to consult the Iowa State Statutes, as well as appropriate municipal documentation available in your area.
For further information on the Iowa Courts System, you can check the following resources: Iowa Judicial Branch , Guide to Small Claims Court in Iowa, and Iowa District Courts. For legal information and assistance: Iowa Attorney General, Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Bar Association (for help with finding a lawyer), and Iowa Legal Aid. For local community action, check Iowa Community Action Association.
For additional information about state and municipal area realtors, the following sources are avaiable: Iowa Association of Realtors, Des Moines Association of Realtors, Southwest Iowa Association of Realtors, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Board of Realtors, Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors, and Iowa City Area Association of Realtors.
Utah has a number of different state statutes that govern rental law. Most of Utah’s laws are fairly straightforward and not dissimilar from those of other states, but one thing to keep in mind is that the threshold to assume abandonment of the property is lower in Utah than in many other places.
No business license is required to operate rental properties in Utah at the state level, but it is always important to check with local cities and counties to see if they have their own ordinances. The information presented below is current as of this writing, but it is also important to check to see if recent changes to rental law have occurred. This is not intended to be legal advice or to replace the advice provided by a qualified and licensed lawyer.
What Laws Cover Landlord-Tenant Relationships in Utah?
The primary laws in Utah that cover rental relationships are Utah Code Ann 57 and Utah Code Ann 78. Code 57 covers real estate laws, the handling of rental deposits, and also contains the Utah Fit Premises Act, which spells out the conditions for a dwelling to be legally regarded as habitable. Code 78 covers statutes of limitations and the rules and limitations of small claims court.
Utah establishes no upper limit on security deposit amounts, as specified in Code Ann 57-17. Landlords initially have 30 days to return the security deposit to the tenant at the end of the lease, but if the tenant requests the deposit by mail and gives the landlord a mailing address, that extends the deadline by 15 days. There are no statutes requiring landlords to pay interest on security deposits, to keep the security deposit in a specific type of bank account or to provide a receipt or a record of deposit withholdings. There are also no statutes governing pet fees. Non-refundable deposits are allowed, but the amount and nature of the deposit must be disclosed in the lease.
At move-in, landlords are required to provide the tenant with an itemized checklist detailing each item in the dwelling and the condition it is in, along with any known damage to the property. This same list must be furnished when the tenant moves out, according to Code Ann 57-17-3.
If the landlord or their representative is found to have violated these terms, the tenant is entitled to the full deposit plus $100 in damages and recovery of their court costs, according to Code Ann 57-17-5.
Utah has little in the way of statutes at the state level regarding fees and notice regarding the rent. There are no formal terms providing for grace periods, notice prior to rent increase, default due dates for payments, late fees or prepaid rent. Landlords are also under no requirement to attempt to mitigate damages if the tenant quits the lease.
Returned check fees are limited to a flat amount of $20 under Code Ann 7-15-2. Tenants are allowed to withhold and deduct from rent for failure to provide necessary utilities and for needed repairs. Landlords, in turn, are allowed to recover court and attorney fees in the event of a dispute.
Notice for lease termination is covered under Code Ann 78B-6-802. For the most part, tenants must provide at least 15 days notice to the landlord before ending their lease, with the exception of leases that have a fixed end date. There is no statute providing for advance notice of a move-out inspection by the landlord. Landlords generally have three days to terminate a lease for either non-payment or for a violation. The tenant does not necessarily have the right to remedy the lease violation during that time.
Notice of entry by the landlord is covered under Code Ann 57-22-5. 24 hours notice is generally the minimum requirement for most circumstances. Landlords are expressly allowed by state law to enter with notice for non-emergency repairs. Other types of notice are not governed by specific statutes. Lockouts and utility shutoffs are illegal under state law.
Code Ann 78B-6-815 lays out the conditions under which a landlord can consider the dwelling to be abandoned by the tenant. Landlords can consider the property abandoned if the rent is 15 days overdue and they have not seen the tenant during that time, though the tenant’s possessions may still be in the unit. If the tenant has removed their possessions from the unit, the landlord may consider the unit abandoned after one day of overdue rent.
Code Ann 78B-6-816 covers the handling of abandoned personal property by the landlord. Landlords may remove the property to a storage unit and recover the storage and moving costs from the tenant. If they do this, they are required to post notice at the property in a conspicuous place and also mail notice to the tenant if they have their mailing address. The tenant has 15 days from the date of the notice to retrieve their property and compensate the landlord. If they fail to do so, the landlord is allowed to sell the property to recover their costs. It should be noted that motor vehicles are not included under this statute and cannot be taken possession of by the landlord.
The duties of tenants are spelled out by Code Ann 57-22-5, and the duties of landlords are listed under Code Ann 57-22-4.
Landlords must provide their name and address to the renter before the lease begins, as well as the name and address of anyone authorized to manage the property. The landlord must also provide the tenant with a copy of the lease and an itemized list of furnishings in the unit and a report of any damage, as well as disclosure of any lead paint used and an information pamphlet on its dangers. Landlords must provide receptacles for trash removal if there are two or more residential units on the property.
Tenants are required to maintain the premises in a clean and safe state, follow all health board regulations, use facilities in a reasonable manner, not exceed the maximum amount of residents legally allowed for the unit, and respect the quiet enjoyment of other residents on the premises.
Utah has special protections for victims of domestic violence. A landlord may ask for verification of domestic violence victim status. Once provided, the tenant is allowed to terminate their lease early with a copy of a protective order or with a copy of a police report that shows the tenant was not a participant in the violence. The tenant may terminate the lease immediately, but is obligated to pay the landlord 45 days of rent. Landlords must also change or re-key the locks at the tenant request, though they can bill the tenant for the work.
Small claims are limited to $10,000 in Utah. Eviction cases are not allowed in small claims court.
Just like in most states, the relationship between landlords and tenants is governed by Michigan laws. The laws lay out the obligations of tenants and landlords and make provisions for how both parties should act when they enter into a lease agreement. let’s look at what the law says about security deposits, lease and rent, entry notices, and small claims.
The maximum allowed security deposit is equivalent to one and a half month’s rent. Tenants are not required to deposit security via a deposit bank account but it should be done with a regulated financial institution. The law allows deposits to be used as reimbursement for actual damages as well as paying outstanding rent owed, unpaid utility bills, and as payment for premature termination of the lease agreement. Landlords are required to create and mail a written description or itemized list of damages and corresponding cost of repairs or charges along with a cheque or money order with the difference within 30 days of move-out. Landlords are required to notify tenants that any dispute of claims made for damages must be made within 7 days, otherwise, the tenant will forfeit the amount held. As of now, there is no statue on pet deposits and non-refundable fees.
Landlords are required to keep records of deposits they withhold as a statutory requirement of move-in/move-out process. Likewise, landlords are not allowed to withhold damages for a previous tenant’s deposits which were claimed on a past move-out checklist. They must notify each new tenants that they are entitled to a copy of a move-out checklist of a previous tenant including the damages. Receipts for deposits are not required but the landlords must provide tenants with the name and address of the bank or financial institution where deposits are held.
Tenants who feel unjustly issued with notices of damages can contest claims to those damages. Where tenants are issued with notices ( as required), they must respond in writing and send mail to the landlord within 7 days to either agree or dispute the claimed damages. Failure to reply effectually means they will forfeit deposit held. Landlords can sue for money judgment in a Michigan court after 45 days where a tenant contests claimed damages. The landlord is required to furnish the court with proof of inability to obtain service on a tenant or refund the withheld portion of the deposit. However, landlords are not required to seek money judgment where a tenant fails to provide a forwarding address or fails to respond to a notice of damages after entering into a written agreement with respect to the portion of deposit held. Likewise, the landlord is not obliged where the amount claimed is for unpaid rent for any full rental period.
In Michigan, rent is deemed due on the date stated on the lease.There is no statute that requires landlords to issue a notice of rent increment or issue a grace period for rent. Similarly, there are no provisions for prepaid rent or late fees. The applicable fees for checks returned within 7 days is $25 while the fee for checks returned within 30 days is $35.
Tenants are allowed by law to withhold rent when the landlord fails to provide essential services such as water and heating. Where a local enforcement authority finds that the tenant is living in conditions that are hazardous to health or not safe, and where such conditions are not attributed to the conduct of the tenant, the tenant can pay rent in escrow when a landlord fails to remedy the conditions after receiving notification. The agency is supposed to pay funds held in escrow to defray costs of correcting violations to the landlord and return any unused amount should the tenant vacate the dwelling unit before repairs are made.
Landlords in Michigan are allowed to recover any monies incurred as court or attorney fees. The amounts recoverable should not exceed the amount permitted by the state.While no statute exists on mitigating damages, landlords are expected to make reasonable effort to mitigate damages to lessees. No provision exists on abandonment or early termination fees.
Notice to terminate year-to-year lease agreements require 1-year notice while notice to terminate month-to-month lease require a 30-days notice. Where a landlord enters into a week-to-week lease agreement, the standard period to issue a notice is 7 days. Termination for nonpayment of rent should be issued with a 7-day written notice. Landlords should issue termination notices for health hazard, physical threat/violence by tenants, and property damaged within 7 days. The landlord can issue a 24 hours notice where a tenant does not move out after termination of a lease on the grounds of illegal-drug activity on the premises. Likewise, the landlord is required to file a formal complaint with the police for the alleged drug-related activity.
Landlords are required to create move-in and move-out checklists. New tenants should be provided with 2 copies of an inventory list which included all items owned by the landlord in the dwelling unit. A tenant has one week to review the checklists after moving in and note the condition of the dwelling units before returning a copy to the landlord. The tenant is also entitled to ask for the most recent move-out checklist from the former immediate tenant. Should the tenant fail to notify the landlord in writing of a new mailing address, the landlord will be relieved from having to notify the tenants of damages. For the above provision to be enforced, the landlord must have duly informed the tenant of the provision in writing within fourteen days of moving into the premise.
Landlords are not required to issue notices for date or time for move-out inspections but they must complete the move-out checklist upon expiration of tenancy and list damages attributed to the tenants. Currently, there is no statute that requires landlords to issue a notice of entry. Notice for maintenance and non-emergency repairs should be issued to tenants as necessary or on a temporary basis. There are no statutes for notice for showings or emergency entries. However, landlords are allowed to enter a tenant’s premises where there is a reason to believe that tenants have abandoned the premises and have no intention to return. They can do this after making diligent inquiry and when rent has not been settled. Notices for lockouts or utility shut-offs are not allowed.
Landlords are required to disclose their names and addresses in a rental agreement. Tenants who hold genuine fears of their safety or children’s safety due to sexual assault, stalking, or domestic violence may be released from rent payment obligations after they issue the landlord with a written document such as protective order, probation letter, written police reports, or release orders after filing charges. While no statute exists for protection from termination, tenants enjoy early termination rights. The landlord is allowed to release them from any obligation to pay rent ( not later than the first of 2nd-month rent that’s due) after receiving notice. Any proof of domestic status must be verified by a 3rd party such as a counselor, health or mental professional, or a clergy.
Landlords must notify tenants that they have legal rights to seek release from rental obligations whenever they have genuine fears for any of the reasons mentioned above. Where stalking is not mentioned in the rental agreement, the landlord must post it in a visible area of the rental management office or deliver it in writing when signing the lease.
Landlords have specific duties that they must fulfill as their obligations to tenants. Under the Covenant for Hospitability, landlords are required to promise tenants that all dwelling units are fit for habitation or intended use. They are also expected to assure tenants that reasonable repairs will be made in compliance with health & safety laws except when the disrepair is caused by the wilful conduct of the tenant.
Tenants are allowed to block attempted evictions when they establish that the eviction was motivated by or intended to serve as a penalty for asserting rights under a rental agreement or as stipulated by law. The same case applies when a tenant issues a complaint to a local authority for health or safety violations or as retribution for being active members of tenants’ organization.
Rental agreements should include notification of Michigan Truth in Renting Act plus other requirements.While there is no statute that requires landlords to perform radon testing, landlords are supposed to disclose known hazards from lead paints and provide tenants with information pamphlets on such hazards.
Disputes and settlements for small claims are handled by Michigan courts. The limits for small claims stands at $5,000. The courts also arbitrate on eviction cases that accompany small claims. Evictions for illegal drug activity, non-payment of rent, or property damaged is heard and determined by district courts.
On the whole, Florida has a fair balance of protections in its law for both landlords and tenants. However, there are some unique factors in the state that tenants should be aware of. For example, in the case of month-to-month or week-to-week leases, certain types of properties can see dramatic spikes in rent in the winter months due to the influx of “snowbirds” who come down temporarily to escape the cold climates of the northern states.
Local city and county ordinances are very important to keep up with in Florida, especially in regard to required business licenses. While there is no state-level requirement for such a license for any rental property, a number of cities and counties require one. In addition, cities sometimes have unique wrinkles in their landlord-tenant code, such as the requirement in Miami that landlords pay for a real estate sign permit for each sign that they place outside advertising one of their properties. Each sign must have a sticker indicating a permit has been purchased for it, or the landlord can be fined.
What Laws Cover Landlord-Tenant Relationships in Florida?
Rental law in Florida is covered almost entirely by Florida Statutes Title VI Chapter 83. There are only a very small handful of other statutes that landlords and tenants may need to refer to, for example section 715, which covers required notice and instructions for handling abandoned property.
There is no statute establishing a maximum security deposit amount in Florida, or on anything pertaining to pet deposits. The rest of the terms that govern the handling of security deposits are listed under Chapter 83.49.
Florida landlords are not required to pay interest on security deposits, but they may do so as a promotional measure if they so desire. If they do choose to pay interest, however, there are some regulations. The deposit must be kept in a Florida bank, and the tenant must receive at least 75% of the interest. If the lease is terminated early due to some fault of the tenant, the landlord is under no obligation to pay the interest. Landlords are not allowed to commingle the deposits of different tenants, nor may they post a surety bond.
Landlords must return a security deposit within 15 days of lease termination, unless they are withholding a portion of it, in which case this deadline is extended to 30 days. If a landlord withholds money from the deposit, they must provide the tenant with an itemized list of damages and charges that follows a specific formula laid out in Chapter 83.49. If interest is being paid to the tenant, the landlord must provide the tenant with information about the interest rate while their deposit was held.
There is no statute on notice prior to an increase in rent, application fees, late fees and prepaid rent.
According to Chapter 83.46 if a rental due date is not specified in the lease, it is regarded by the law as due on the first day of each rental period. It can also be uniformly apportioned by each day.
Chapter 68.065 covers returned check fees. Landlords can charge varying amounts depending on the face value of the check. The permitted amount is $25 for checks under $50, and an added $5 if the check exceeds $50 and $10 if the check exceeds $300. The landlord can opt to take 5% of the face value of the check instead if that amount is greater.
There is no statute allowing tenants to make repairs on their own and deduct the cost from the rent. Under Chapter 83.60, however, tenants are allowed to withhold rent for failure to provide essential utilities. Landlords may recover attorney and court fees in the event of a legal dispute, and Chapter 83.595 states that landlords do not have an obligation to minimize damages or find a new tenant if the lease is abandoned.
Tenants may terminate a yearly lease with 60 days notice, a quarterly lease with 30 days notice, a monthly lease with 15 days notice and a weekly lease with a week’s notice under Chapter 83.57. There is no statute on advance notice for a move-out inspection by the landlord.
Landlords can terminate a lease for nonpayment with only three business days notice. If the notice falls across a weekend, the days of the weekend don’t count as part of the time limit. Leases are required to notify tenants of this time limit, however. If a landlord wants to evict for a lease violation, they have to give seven days notice, but the tenant may remedy the issue during that time to restore the lease to good standing. Landlords generally only have to give 12 hours notice to enter a dwelling, but this can be changed in the lease by mutual consent.
Lockouts and utility shutoffs are not allowed under Florida law. Self-help evictions make the landlord liable to the tenant either for actual damages or the equivalent of three months rent, whichever amount is greater, under Chapter 83.67. Greater damages can be awarded for repeated violations. Landlords are also subject to special requirements when handling abandoned property, and they must notify tenants at their last known address with pre-paid postage.
At the outset of each tenancy, landlords are required to provide either their name and address, or the name and address of a person authorized to receive communications from tenants. At move-in, landlords are also required to provide a specific warning about the potential dangers of radon gas, which can be found in Chapter 404.506. If the building is three stories tall or higher, landlords are also required to give tenants details on the availability of fire protection.
Landlords are required to include a specific clause (found in Chapter 83.67) to indemnify themselves from responsibility for the personal property left on the premises after the death of a tenant. If this clause is not in the lease, the landlord becomes responsible for the removal of the property. Landlords may not include any clause in the lease that would cause the tenant to waive any of their legal rights.
Retaliation is illegal under Florida law. Retaliation is presumed if the landlord takes adverse action in response to a tenant complaining to a government authority, becoming active with a tenants organization, making a valid complaint to the landlord or exercises their right to terminate a lease due to their active duty military service. Adverse actions include increasing the rent, threatening legal action or decreasing services.
The limit for small claims in Florida is $5,000, but this excludes attorney and court fees as well as interest. Eviction cases are heard in small claims court in the state. The statute of limitations for written contracts is five years and oral contracts is four years.
Georgia has extensive laws that cover landlord-tenant relationships, so it is very important for both parties to be familiar with the state statutes on rental housing. Georgia is one of the few states that allows landlords to immediately terminate a lease for nonpayment or violation, and a state statute specifically forbids any city or county from implementing rent control. While Georgia law does tend to heavily favor landlords, tenants do have some significant protections under state statutes that all involved parties should be aware of.
What Laws Cover Landlord-Tenant Relationships in Georgia?
Georgia rental law is covered almost entirely by Georgia Code Ann. 44-7. For disputes that escalate to a court hearing, the Georgia court system publishes a benchbook for landlords and tenants that helps to collect and summarize the various laws both parties need to be aware of.
There is no statute regarding the maximum that can be charged for a security deposit. However, OCGA 44-7-34 specifies that landlords must return any security deposits within 30 days of the end of the lease.
This statute also allows landlords to deduct from the security deposit for a number of different reasons. Landlords may deduct from the deposit to cover missed rent payments, fees for late rent payments and pets, damages caused by the tenant, repair work that the tenant ordered and then billed to the premises, and nonpayment of the utilities. If the tenant abandons the lease, however, the landlord does have a legal obligation to mitigate the damages.
According to OCGA 44-7-31 to 44-7-36, landlords are not required to place security deposits in an interest-bearing bank account or pay any kind of interest to tenants. However, if the landlord and their family collectively own and directly manage more than 10 rental units, or own less than ten units that are managed by a third party in return for a fee, there are some special rules about the handling of the deposit. In these circumstances, the deposits of all tenants must be placed in an escrow account and the tenants must be informed of the location of this account.
Pet deposits, application fees and other fees, including non-refundable fees, are allowed under OCGA 44-7-30 with no specific maximums. However, no portion of the security deposit can be designated as non-refundable for any reason. Landlords who wish to retain a portion of the deposit for cleaning up after pets will instead need to charge a separate non-refundable pet deposit.
Landlords who collectively own and directly manage more than ten rental units with their family need to provide new tenants with a complete list of known damages to the premises prior to receiving their security deposit. The tenant also has a right to inspect the premises after receiving this list to confirm that it is accurate. Landlords who own less than ten rental units are exempt from this requirement UNLESS their rental units are managed by a third party for a fee.
Landlords are also required to provide an itemized list of damages and charges within three days after the tenant quits the premises. After the former tenant receives the list, they have five days in which to inspect the premises to verify that the list is accurate. As with the requirement for the initial list of damages, however, this only applies to landlords who own and manage ten or more units within their family, or those with ten or less units who have them managed by a third party in return for payment. These requirements can be seen in OCGA 44-7-36. There is no statute regarding keeping records of deposit withholdings outside of this requirement.
If landlords violate any terms of handling the security deposit, they are subject to forfeiture of the deposit. If it is determined that the landlord intentionally violated these regulations, the tenant may sue for up to three times the deposit amount and may recover attorney fees and court costs, under OCGA 44-7-35.
Georgia has no statutes on default rental due dates, advance notice of increases in rent, grae periods, prepaid rent or late fees. There are also no state statutes permitting tenants to perform needed repairs on their own and deduct rent, or to withhold rent for failure to provide needed utilities.
The state has enacted a law (OCGA 44-7-19) that prevents localities from regulating the amount of rent that can be charged for a rental property. This means that no place in the state has any form of rent control, although federally funded subsidy programs such as Section 8 are still available.
Landlords are allowed to collect returned check fees in Georgia. They may ask either $30 or 5% of the check amount, whichever is greater. They may also recoup any fees charged to them by the bank.
Georgia landlords are also allowed to recover court and attorney fees in the event of a dispute. If the tenant abandons the lease, there is language in OCGA 44-7-34 that requires the landlord to make a reasonable attempt to mitigate damages, but that does not include having to search for a new tenant while the lease is still active. Landlords are also allowed to handle and remove the personal property of a tenant if they first obtain a formal writ of possession from the court.
There are some special rules regarding the termination of the lease of an active duty member of the military that landlords must be aware of. If the service member is ordered to leave the area on duty for a period of 90 days or more, there is a special process that the landlord must follow to end the lease, outlined in OCGA 44-7-22. Service members need to provide written notice of the assignment to the landlord, after which time they may terminate the lease immediately and only be held liable for the following 30-day period and any damages to the unit that they may have caused.
Termination of tenancy generally requires 60 days notice from the landlord or 30 days notice from the tenant, with the exception of week-to-week rentals, where there is no statute.
There are no statutes for most conditions of entry by the landlord, with the exception of entry for showings and non-emergency maintenance, for which 24 hours notice is required. Landlords are expressly allowed to enter in emergencies without notice under OCGA 44-7-14.
There are no statutes on lease terminations for a violation of terms. Landlords are allowed to immediately terminate a lease for non-payment, but must give the tenant a period of seven days to pay the owed rent and fees to restore the lease to good standing.
Lockouts and utility shutoffs are not allowed in Georgia. Landlords can be fined up to $500 for doing either of these things.
Landlords are required to disclose the name and address of the property owner and any authorized property managers to the tenant at the beginning of each lease. In accordance with federal law, they must also disclose the use of lead-based paint and provide tenants with an informational pamphlet on its potential dangers.
OCGA 44-7-15 requires the tenant to continue honoring the lease if the property is destroyed by fire.
If the property has flooded three times or more within the past five years, the landlord is required to disclose this to the applicant before the lease is signed under OCGA 44-7-20.
Georgia law presently has no statutes on protection for domestic violence victims or on retaliation by landlords.
OCGA 15-10-2 sets the upper small claims court limit at $15,000. Eviction cases are heard in small claims court.

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