Tenants' Rights – Forms and Resources

Lease agreements and the landlord-tenant relationship are governed by various state and federal regulations, such as anti-discrimination laws and rules for how security deposits are handled. Below you will find links to state-specific laws and information on common landlord-tenant issues, federal housing information, and more.

See FindLaw’s Tenant Rights section for additional articles and resources.

State Landlord-Tenant Laws:

• Chart: Security Deposit Limits, State by State – State-by-state listing of security deposit limits for rental leases.
• What Can a Landlord Deduct From a Security Deposit for Cleaning and Repairs? – Overview of what a landlord generally can and cannot deduct from a security deposit for cleaning and repairs.
• Chart: Deadline for Returning Security Deposits, State-by-State – State-by-state guide to legally mandated deadlines for returning security deposits to tenants at the end of the lease.
• Chart: State-by-State Anti-Retaliation Statutes – State-specific guide to anti-retaliation statutes applicable to the landlord-tenant relationship.
• Chart: Landlord-Tenant Statutes, State by State – Guide to general landlord-tenant statutes for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• Tenant Rights, Laws, and Protections in Your State (U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development) – State-specific guide to tenant rights.

State-Specific Landlord-Tenant Publications – Consumer-friendly explanations of landlord-tenant laws, arranged by state.

Real Estate Lease Packages and Forms – Do-it-yourself legal forms and packages for lease agreements and other real estate transactions.

More Resources:

• State Housing and Real Estate Agencies – State-by-state directory of state housing and real estate agencies.
• Local Renting Information (U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development) – State guide to rental information.
• State-Specific Resources from HUD – Additional state-specific lease and rental information.
• Housing Discrimination: Federal Laws (FindLaw’s Civil Rights Center) – Overview of federal laws prohibiting housing discrimination.