Rental housing laws, also referred to as “Landlord- Tenant law” are a set of laws and ordinances which govern rental agreements and provisions. They are made to protect both parties of the landlord-tenant relationship and whichever side of the table you are, conversant knowledge and compliance with them is crucial for you. As a renter, you will want to live peacefully in a rental home and protect your personal rights; while as a landlord, understanding your legal rights and responsibility is a protection for yourself, your rental business and rental property.

The two major federal rental housing laws are the Fair Housing Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination due to race, color, nationality, religion or disability. It extends beyond leasing to advertising and prevents a landlord from marketing their properties to groups of people.

Read more about the fair housing act:



The Fair Credit Reporting Act specifies how a landlord may and may not use a tenant’s credit history for screening purpose. The landlord must seek an applicant’s permission to run a credit check on him with a specified credit reporting agency and must inform the applicant if the credit report is the basis for denial.

State rental housing laws vary from one state to the other and they usually concern practical matters such as the right and responsibilities of both parties, what can be included in lease terms and conditions, lease termination and/or eviction procedures. They can also dictate how much a landlord can charge as a security deposit, and how such funds can be handled legally. A good place to find out more on state laws about rental housing is at www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/state-landlord-tenant-laws

While familiarizing yourself with the federal, state and local rental housing laws, a lot of misconceptions are bound to come up and we are here to clear them by shedding more light on the top eight (8) myths about rental housing laws and the true facts about them.

Myth 1: Whatever is in the lease is legally binding

Landlords might think once they input anything into the rental or lease agreement, its legally binding on the tenant. This is however untrue because, any content of the rental or lease agreement that goes against, state, federal or local laws are not enforceable. Only content that is legal in that state is upheld in a lease.

For example, a landlord cannot state they can visit a property whenever they choose to do so without warning because the law requires an advance notice of entry.

Myth 2: Repairs is the landlords’ sole responsibility

Renters might believe repairs are the landlord’s sole responsibility. This is however untrue. Landlords are only bounded by law to repair damages that occur through no fault of the tenant. They are required to cater for repairs due to wear and tear, or circumstances beyond the tenants’ control such as robbery and natural disasters.

So, if you throw a party and the window gets broken, you should repair it unless you are ready to stake your security deposit.

Myth 3: Landlords can hold on to the lease security deposit till the renter is moving out

A renter’s security should be held with the landlord no more than twenty-one days after the renter moves out. The renter also should receive a receipt as proof that the security deposit has been received.