It’s critical for renters to understand the most significant state and federal laws that affect their rights and duties. Knowing these laws will allow you to be a better and more educated tenant. This can improve your experience and help you avoid future conflicts with your landlord. As a renter, the following are some of the most critical laws to be aware of:
- Warranty of Habitability. Although the term used varies by state, implied warranty of habitability laws are state laws that ensure that your rental unit is habitable. This implies that the rental home must fulfill certain minimum requirements for things like heat, water, and electricity in the majority of states.
- Choosing a Tenant. Landlords have the freedom to choose their tenants under state and federal laws. However, the laws require that a landlord’s decision be based on a tenant’s creditworthiness, income, or previous history. They can’t refuse to rent to someone because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, family situation, or disability.
- Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act bans landlords from discriminating against tenants on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, religion, gender, national origin, or handicap. This 1968 law allows tenants who believe they have been discriminated against because of one or more of these characteristics to file a complaint with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), regardless of where they live.
- Limiting the Number of Children. A landlord cannot refuse to rent to a tenant solely on the basis of the number of children the tenant has, as defined under the Fair Housing Act. A landlord cannot prevent minors from using outdoor or shared places, according to the legislation.
- Service Animals. Service animals are considered a reasonable accommodation under federal rules such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, therefore landlords cannot simply prohibit them. They are also prohibited from charging an additional pet fee or increasing the rent just because you have a service animal. Landlords, on the other hand, may insist that a service animal is vaccinated, licensed, and registered in accordance with all applicable state and municipal regulations.
- Discriminatory Advertising. The federal Fair Housing Act, administered by HUD, also prohibits landlords from discriminating in their rental property advertisements. Discriminatory advertising includes, for example, placing an ad declaring that the landlord will not rent to single adults, persons of a certain age, or people who use wheelchairs.
- Security Deposits. The way a Kuna property manager handles your security deposit is governed by law. In most situations, the law allows a landlord to collect and store your security deposit, which they can subsequently use to pay repairs if you are careless and damage something while living there. There are federal limits on how much a landlord can demand a security deposit, but state law also governs this.
- Illegal Lockouts. While there is no federal legislation that renders locking out a tenant illegal, state laws explain the legal eviction process, which makes locking out a tenant from their rented house illegal. Eviction is a legal process that must be carried out appropriately or the landlord risks having the court rule in favor of the tenant.
If you’re looking for a Kuna rental home and property manager who knows and will follow all tenant-landlord laws in Idaho, Real Property Management Boise is who you can rely on. Browse our listings online to find your next rental home!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
