Questions
Short, citable answers first. Then the official chapter for your state, and free legal aid if a court is involved. We do not invent deadlines.
You do not have to solve the whole case tonight. Take the next right step.
Eviction
No. A landlord notice is usually a step before a court case — not a judgment and not a lockout. If the paper names a court, a case number, or an appearance date, a case has been filed. Date it, keep the original, and call legal aid the same day.
Open the full answerHelp
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. Domestic violence: 1-800-799-7233. Local rent, shelter, or utilities: 211. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. None of those are behind a sign-up.
Open the full answerLegal-aid offices are free for people who qualify. They have eligibility rules and limited capacity. Call early, ask what to bring, and ask for a referral if they cannot take the case. This site never charges to show you those numbers.
Open the full answerNo. Emergency numbers, 211, and legal aid links are ungated. If a site asks you to subscribe before showing a crisis line, leave it.
Open the full answerRights
No single national landlord–tenant code sets notice periods, deposits, or repair timelines. Federal law is mostly a floor around discrimination and consumer protection. State law supplies the main rules; cities may add more; your lease fills the rest.
Open the full answerNo single one. Federal law mostly covers discrimination, consumer reporting, debt collection, and subsidized housing programs. The rules renters ask about most — notice periods, deposits, repairs, entry, eviction — come from state law, with cities and counties sometimes adding more.
Open the full answerBoth apply. State law is generally the floor and local rules can add protections on top of it, though some states limit what cities may regulate. If your city has a rent board or housing department, checking with them is the only way to know whether a local rule covers your address.
Open the full answerA lease generally cannot remove a right the law gives, but which rights can be waived differs by state, and a clause appearing in a lease does not by itself settle whether it is enforceable. Bring the specific clause to legal aid rather than assuming either way.
Open the full answerBecause getting it wrong is worse than not answering. These rules are amended often and differ by housing type and city. We link the statute the legislature publishes and the legal-aid office that reads it daily, rather than publishing a summary that may already be out of date.
Open the full answerDirect answers
Treat it as time-sensitive, not as the end of the story. A landlord notice is usually a step — not a judgment and not a lockout. Keep the original, write when and how it arrived, and look for a court name. If a court is named, call legal aid the same day. That help is free, and it is not behind a sign-up on this desk.
Open the full answerLawHelp.org lists legal-aid offices by state. Dial 211 for local services in many languages. If you have court papers, call legal aid the same day and ask about walk-in or self-help hours at the courthouse. Those resources are free and are never behind a sign-up on this site.
Open the full answerEntry rules are state — and sometimes city — questions, and they often differ for emergencies, repairs, and showings. This site does not invent a national hour-count. Open your state page for the official statute, check your lease, and write down any entry you believe was improper.
Open the full answerMost states set a deadline and allowable deductions in statute, and the details vary widely. Document the unit at move-in and move-out, return keys the way the lease requires, and keep a forwarding address. Confirm the rule on your state page or with legal aid before sending a demand.
Open the full answerNo. This is general educational information, not legal advice, and we are not a law firm. We do not review your papers or tell you what to do in your case. When a lawyer is needed, we say so and point you to free legal aid.
Open the full answerFair housing
No. The Fair Housing Act is enacted federal law HUD enforces. The National Tenants Bill of Rights is a campaign document. One already binds landlords. The other describes what advocates want Congress to pass.
Open the full answerHUD lists seven: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. States and cities often add more. Confirm extras where you live. This desk does not invent a local class list.
Open the full answerUse HUD’s form at hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination. Keep dates and copies. A local fair-housing organization can often take the same facts. Filing is free. Anyone who charges you to file a HUD complaint is a reason to leave.
Open the full answerNot by itself. A possession case keeps its own clock. Call legal aid the same day if a court is named, and file the discrimination complaint on its own track.
Open the full answerBill of Rights
No. It is a proposal published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Their materials say “when enacted.” The Fair Housing Act is enacted federal law. Your state’s landlord-tenant chapter is enacted state law.
Open the full answerNot by itself. Some states and cities already have just-cause or good-cause rules for some units. Coverage is an address question. Confirm on your city desk or with legal aid. Do not treat the campaign heading as coverage.
Open the full answerNLIHC hosts the bill, the factsheet, and the section summaries at nlihc.org/national-tenants-bill-rights. That is the primary source for the campaign. It is not the primary source for your lease.
Open the full answerIgnore the campaign PDF for the evening. Keep the paper. If it names a court, call legal aid the same day. Open your state page on this desk for the official chapter.
Open the full answerWhich door
211 is for local services — rent, shelter, food, utilities. Legal aid is for court papers and legal problems. If the paper names a court, legal aid first. You can call both.
Open the full answerNo. Stay Housed LA is eviction defense. LAHD administers local rent and just-cause ordinances and inspects conditions. Housing Rights Center is fair housing. Match the paper to the door.
Open the full answerNo. Community Alliance of Tenants is a tenants union. oregonrentersrights.org is a self-help handbook hub. 211info.org is regional 211. ORS Chapter 90 is the statute. Four different things.
Open the full answerA fair-housing complaint does not, by itself, pause a possession case. Call legal aid the same day if a court is named. File the HUD complaint on its own track if discrimination is also the problem.
Open the full answerConfirm the law
Not blindly. On 8 September 2026 the page title was still “COVID-19 Emergency Renter Protections,” and the body still named 2020 emergency ordinances. Confirm with LAHD what is in force for this unit now. We do not reprint those rules here.
Open the full answerAs a pattern, often yes — CAT maintains them. A filename that includes 2009 or 2020 is a reason to confirm the current statute, not a reason to skip the letter. Adapt, date, keep a copy.
Open the full answerNo. NLIHC’s own materials say “when enacted.” The Fair Housing Act is enacted federal law. Your state chapter is enacted state law.
Open the full answerBecause the cap is a now-question in ORS Chapter 90 and in session-law overlays CAT names as SB 608 and SB 611. Reprinting a figure from a flyer is how people miss a window. Open the current text, or take the paper to legal aid.
Open the full answerGoogle’s people-first and generative-AI guidance rewards unique, reliable pages over commodity reprints. A stale number is a trust defect on a housing topic. Naming the bill and pointing at the office is the passage an answer engine can still quote next year.
Open the full answerNo. On 8 September 2026 it was an enforcement-policy overview. Cite it for the Act. For a notice in your hand, use the HUD vs court desk — a complaint does not pause an eviction.
Open the full answerKeep the paper. If a court is named, legal aid the same day. Then use the door map — Oregon, Portland, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, or the national help desk — instead of a PDF you cannot date.
Open the full answerOregon help
No. ORS Chapter 90 is the statute. oregonrentersrights.org is a self-help hub with handbooks and a pointer to the Eviction Defense Project. Useful. Not the law.
Open the full answerNo. CAT is a tenants union. They educate, organize, and publish a hotline. Oregon Law Help is legal aid. An FED with a court name is legal aid the same day.
Open the full answer211info.org is the regional 211 operator for Oregon and southwest Washington. 211.org is the national locator. Dialing 211 in Oregon still works. Neither one is a lawyer.
Open the full answerForcible entry and detainer — the circuit-court case to recover possession. A landlord notice is a step. Papers that name the court are a case. Legal aid the same day.
Open the full answerOregon is unusual: some rent and termination rules operate statewide in ORS Chapter 90, including overlays CAT names as SB 608 and SB 611. What is in force for this address is a now-question. Read the current statute. Portland adds more.
Open the full answerKeep the paper. Look for a court name. If a court is named, Oregon Law Help the same day. If it is only a landlord notice, still date it and read CAT or oregonrentersrights.org handbooks — then confirm Chapter 90. 211info if you also need rent or shelter.
Open the full answerCommunity Alliance of Tenants publishes repair, move-out, and deposit samples on oregoncat.org/know-your-rights. oregonrentersrights.org publishes handbooks and letters. This classroom points. It does not host a copy.
Open the full answerNo. FHCO takes discrimination. CAT is a tenants union. Oregon Law Help is legal aid. Three doors.
Open the full answerLos Angeles help
No. Stay Housed LA is an eviction-defense network — workshops and lawyers for eligible tenants. LAHD administers rent stabilization, just-cause, and complaints. LAHD’s own page points eviction cases to Stay Housed.
Open the full answerHRC is a fair-housing organization. Discrimination is their door. An unlawful detainer is Stay Housed LA or legal aid. If both are happening, you may need both doors — they are still not the same office.
Open the full answerThat is an address question LAHD answers. The Rent Stabilization Ordinance does not cover every unit. This desk does not guess from a ZIP code.
Open the full answerNot blindly. That page still names 2020 emergency ordinances. Confirm with LAHD what is in force for this unit now. We do not reprint those rules here.
Open the full answerHUD at hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination, and Housing Rights Center locally. You can often use both. That is not the eviction clinic.
Open the full answerOn 8 September 2026 their get-help page listed Alhambra, Carson, El Monte, Inglewood, Lakewood, and Palmdale. Clinics move. Confirm with HRC. An eviction notice is still Stay Housed LA.
Open the full answer211
If the paper names a court, a case number, or an appearance date: legal aid the same day. Call 211 as well if you also need rent, shelter, food, or utilities. 211 does not appear in court.
Open the full answerNo. 211 refers you to local services. A possession case is legal aid and, in some cities, an eviction-defense network such as Stay Housed LA. Keep the paper.
Open the full answerThe call is free. The programs 211 names may have their own eligibility rules. Confirm with the program, not with this classroom.
Open the full answerDial 211 or use 211.org to find the operator for your address. The job is the same: local services, not the court docket.
Open the full answerNo. HUD and a local fair-housing organization take those. 211 may still help with shelter or rent while that complaint is pending.
Open the full answerFair housing complaint
You can often use both. HUD is the federal door. A local group such as Housing Rights Center or the Fair Housing Council of Oregon may take extra state classes and a faster intake. Filing is free.
Open the full answerNo. A fair-housing complaint does not, by itself, pause a possession case. If the paper names a court, call legal aid the same day. File the discrimination complaint on its own track.
Open the full answerNo. HRC is fair housing. Stay Housed LA is eviction defense. HRC’s own get-help page points eviction notices to Stay Housed. HUD is the federal floor under both.
Open the full answerWrite the dates. Keep the listing and the messages. Open HUD’s form at hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination. Call a local fair-housing group if you have one. If a court date is also on the paper, legal aid the same day.
Open the full answerHUD
No. On 8 September 2026 that HUD page was an enforcement-policy overview with a complaint CTA. It does not tell you what to do with a notice tonight. Keep the paper. If a court is named, legal aid. If the harm is discrimination, HUD or a local fair-housing group.
Open the full answerIf you can reach a local FHIP — Housing Rights Center in Los Angeles, Fair Housing Council of Oregon, and others — start there. They often dual-file. HUD is always available. A court date is still legal aid, not HUD.
Open the full answerNo. The Fair Housing Act is enacted federal law HUD enforces. The National Tenants Bill of Rights is a campaign. NLIHC’s own materials say “when enacted.”
Open the full answerHUD’s complaint page is the federal door. Confirm the current form there. A local fair-housing group can help you file. This classroom does not host a copy of the form.
Open the full answerNew York City
No. 311 opens a City service request — heat, pests, no hot water, some lockouts. NYC Housing Court hears possession. Papers that name the court are a case. 311 will not appear for you.
Open the full answerNo. HPD handles conditions under the Housing Maintenance Code. Possession is Housing Court. You can file both. They are still two doors.
Open the full answerThat is a unit question for New York State Homes and Community Renewal, not a ZIP-code guess and not HPD. Ask HCR. This desk will not invent coverage.
Open the full answerThe City has a right-to-counsel program for eligible tenants. Who is covered is a now-question. If Housing Court is named, ask legal aid and the courthouse that day. Do not wait.
Open the full answerHUD is the federal discrimination door. An eviction is Housing Court. If both are happening, you may need both. A HUD complaint does not pause the case.
Open the full answerKeep the paper. Look for Housing Court, a case number, or a date. If a court is named, legal aid the same day. If it is conditions, 311 and HPD. If you think the unit is regulated, HCR — later, after the paper is dated.
Open the full answerChicago
No. Illinois is statewide. The RLTO is a City of Chicago ordinance that covers many — not all — Chicago rental units. Suburbs have their own rules. Ask the Department of Housing about this address.
Open the full answerNo. 311 is conditions. Possession is the Circuit Court of Cook County. You can file both. They are still two doors.
Open the full answerNo. Stay Housed LA is a Los Angeles network. Chicago uses legal aid and the court. Do not call an LA number about a Cook County case.
Open the full answerNo. HUD is federal discrimination. Cook County eviction is state court. File both if both apply. The complaint does not continue the case.
Open the full answerThat is an address and building-type question for the Department of Housing. This desk will not guess from a ZIP code.
Open the full answerKeep the paper. If Cook County Circuit Court is named, legal aid the same day. If it is heat or pests, 311. If it is “what does the RLTO say,” the Department of Housing — after the paper is dated.
Open the full answerPortland
No. Rental Services is a City of Portland office. CAT is a tenants union. ORS Chapter 90 is the statute. Three different jobs.
Open the full answerNo. It is a statewide self-help hub. It is not ORS Chapter 90 and not Portland Rental Services. Useful handbooks. Not the City overlay.
Open the full answerForcible entry and detainer — the circuit-court case to recover possession. In Portland that is Multnomah County Circuit Court. A landlord notice is a step. Papers that name the court are a case.
Open the full answerNo. 211info is 211 for Oregon and southwest Washington. It finds rent, shelter, food, utilities. It does not take an FED. Oregon Law Help is the court door.
Open the full answerOregon is unusual: some rent and termination rules operate statewide in Chapter 90, including overlays CAT names as SB 608 and SB 611. Portland adds more. What is in force for this address is a now-question. Read the current statute and ask Rental Services. We will not invent a cap.
Open the full answerKeep the paper. If Multnomah County Circuit Court is named, Oregon Law Help the same day. If it is only a landlord notice, date it, then use CAT or oregonrentersrights.org as a classroom — and confirm Chapter 90. City overlay: Portland Rental Services. Services: 211info.
Open the full answerEviction Defense Project
No. EDP is a legal-aid program of the Oregon Law Center. CAT is a tenants union. 211info is regional 211. Three doors.
Open the full answerNo. On 8 September 2026 their live page said they do not provide rental assistance and no longer partner with rent-assistance agencies. Older flyers that still describe them as EPRR intake can lag. Confirm on oregonlawcenter.org. Use 211info for services.
Open the full answerNo. It is a handbook hub — branded with Legal Aid Services of Oregon on the handbooks page we opened — that points to EDP. LASO is not the Oregon Law Center. The pointer is useful. It is not the intake.
Open the full answerIf a court is named, before the first appearance. Their own page says eviction court moves fast and to reach them before that date. Confirm the current intake there. Show up even if you have not heard back.
Open the full answerNo. 211info finds services. EDP or Oregon Law Help takes the FED. You can use both. They are still two calls.
Open the full answerKeep it. Date it. That is not yet an FED. CAT or the oregonrentersrights.org handbook is a classroom. If a court is later named, switch doors the same day.
Open the full answerStay Housed LA
No. Stay Housed is eviction defense — workshops and legal help for eligible tenants. LAHD administers rent stabilization and complaints. Stay Housed’s own explainer says California state law controls the eviction process.
Open the full answerNo. Coverage is an address question for LAHD. Stay Housed is the court door.
Open the full answerBecause HRC is fair housing, not the unlawful detainer docket. On 8 September 2026 their get-help page said to contact Stay Housed immediately if you have an eviction notice. Believe that map.
Open the full answerNo. Stay Housed publishes a FAQ about a lockout notice after court. It is a different paper. Confirm the current process with them. Do not ignore it. We will not freeze a day-count.
Open the full answerStay Housed says the process is controlled by California state law. The City adds overlays for covered units. Two layers. Do not skip the one that matches the paper.
Open the full answerNo. Stay Housed LA is Los Angeles. Chicago uses legal aid and Cook County court. Portland uses the Eviction Defense Project or Oregon Law Help.
Open the full answerManufactured-home parks
Not always. oregonrentersrights.org publishes a separate park guide next to its apartment-oriented landlord-tenant guide. Ask legal aid which rulebook applies to this space. We will not invent the chapter.
Open the full answerAs a dated written request, often yes. As the correct notice name or court process, maybe not. Confirm with the park guide or legal aid.
Open the full answerIf a court is named, reach them or Oregon Law Help and say it is a park. Do not assume an apartment FAQ covers the caption.
Open the full answerNo. It is a handbook hub. The PDFs are a classroom. The current text lives in Oregon law. Their own page says the information is not legal advice.
Open the full answerNo. Those are Los Angeles doors. Use Oregon legal aid and the Oregon park guide.
Open the full answerKeep the paper. If a court is named, Eviction Defense Project or Oregon Law Help the same day. If it is only a park notice, date it, then open the manufactured-home-parks guide — and confirm the current law.
Open the full answerPaper
No. Paper, a folder, and photos on your phone are a tool. An app is optional. Rights do not wait on an account.
Open the full answerSometimes a text helps prove you asked. Many state chapters still want written notice you can produce later. Send both if you can, and keep copies. Confirm the chapter for your state.
Open the full answerWrite down what you remember: the date, how it arrived, what it said, whether a court was named. Photograph anything that is left. Call legal aid if you think a court date is running. A reconstructed log is weaker than the original and still better than nothing.
Open the full answerRecording laws differ by state. Do not assume it is allowed. A dated written log of what was said is legal everywhere. Ask legal aid before you record.
Open the full answerIf a court is named: legal aid the same day. If the unit is unsafe: the city housing or health department, plus the written request to the landlord. If the harm is discrimination: HUD and a local fair-housing group. 211 for rent, shelter, and utilities.
Open the full answerLetters
Community Alliance of Tenants publishes a bilingual repair-request sample on oregoncat.org/know-your-rights. Confirm the current file there. Date your own copy. Keep proof you sent it.
Open the full answerAs a pattern, if CAT still publishes it. Put today’s date on your version. Confirm the current rule in ORS Chapter 90. A filename is not the law.
Open the full answerNo. If the paper names a court, Oregon Law Help or the Eviction Defense Project the same day. A letter is still worth sending for repairs or deposits when no case has been filed.
Open the full answerBecause a hosted copy goes stale. CAT’s repair-request filename still includes 2009. Hosting it here would freeze a date. Pointing at CAT keeps the maintainer in charge.
Open the full answerThe notice, the photos, the dates, and how you sent the letter. That file is already the case. See the documentation desk.
Open the full answerWhich source
No. HUD is the Act. A City page is an ordinance shop, and it can lag. A union PDF is a classroom. A campaign is a proposal. Match the rung to the paper.
Open the full answerThe domain is the query. That is honest search. It is still a handbook hub. ORS Chapter 90 is the statute.
Open the full answerThey wrote a campaign. Their materials say “when enacted.” They should rank for that PDF. They should not be quoted as the lease.
Open the full answerNo. On 8 September 2026 the title was still COVID-19 Emergency Renter Protections. Ask LAHD what is in force for this unit now.
Open the full answerA classroom. We cite the rungs above us. We are not a law firm, not a union, and not the court. The notice in your hand still outranks us.
Open the full answerThe ladder, the dated observations, and the matching door — not a frozen cap, not a day-count, not a phone line we did not confirm this hour.
Open the full answerEviction notice or case
No. A notice is a step a landlord takes before filing. In most states an eviction is completed only through a court case and an order carried out by a law-enforcement officer. Whether the notice in your hands is a pre-filing notice or actual court papers is the first thing to identify — look for a court name and a case number.
Open the full answerIn most courts, not responding by the stated deadline leads to a default judgment for the landlord. That is generally the worst available outcome, because it removes the chance to be heard. If a deadline is close, contacting legal aid or the court's self-help center the same day is the highest-value action available.
Open the full answerIn most states a landlord may not carry out a removal personally, and lockouts, utility shutoffs, and removal of belongings are treated separately from the court process. If this is happening now, it is an emergency: contact legal aid, the local court self-help center, or in an unsafe situation, emergency services.
Open the full answerCourt filings are generally public records in the United States, and tenant-screening companies commonly report them. Rules on what may be reported, and for how long, differ by state and by federal consumer-reporting law. A legal-aid office can explain what applies where you live.
Open the full answerMany tenants appear without one. But eviction is the situation where free legal help changes outcomes most, and in some cities tenants facing eviction have a right to counsel. Starting with LawHelp.org or 211 costs nothing and takes minutes.
Open the full answerNo. What the notice must say, how long it runs, and how fast you must answer are state — and sometimes city — questions. This guide explains the sequence. Your state page names the official chapter. Legal aid applies it to the paper in your hand.
Open the full answerOpen Rights, search your state, and read the official statute and legal-aid links. If the paper names a court, call legal aid the same day — do not wait on a national chart.
Open the full answerRent increase
Not nationally. Most U.S. renters live in places with no cap. A minority of cities and counties run rent-stabilization programs, and a few states have statewide rules for some housing types. Whether a limit applies to your specific unit is answered by your state's law plus any local rent board — not by a national number.
Open the full answerA fixed-term lease generally sets the rent for the term, so an increase inside the term usually depends on a clause in the lease. Month-to-month tenancies are different, and most states allow changes with proper written notice. Read the lease first, then confirm the state rule.
Open the full answerMost states require some form of advance notice for a rent change in a month-to-month tenancy, and many require it in writing. The required amount and form is set by state law, so check the statute link on your state page or ask legal aid.
Open the full answerIt depends on how your state defines rent, and sometimes on your lease. Practically, what matters is the total you owe. Ask in writing for an itemized breakdown of every charge, keep the lease and addenda, and take that to legal aid if the charges look unfamiliar.
Open the full answerOften, yes — negotiation is not a legal question and nothing stops a tenant from asking. Written, specific, and unemotional works best: a proposed amount, a term length, and a record of on-time payment. Keep the exchange in writing either way.
Open the full answerNo. A fixed-term lease, a month-to-month tenancy, and a rent-stabilized unit are three different systems, and cities add rules the state does not. There is no national percentage we can honestly quote.
Open the full answerYour lease first, then your state page for the official chapter, then your city housing department if you live in a city that runs a rent board.
Open the full answerRepairs not getting made
That depends entirely on your state, and it is one of the riskiest choices a renter can make without checking. Some states have a formal escrow or repair-and-deduct process with strict conditions; in others, withholding rent gives the landlord grounds to file for eviction. Confirm with a legal-aid office before withholding anything.
Open the full answerState law differs on what is required, but written requests are more useful in every state. Text and email both create a dated record. If your lease or your state names a specific method of notice, follow that method and also keep your own copy.
Open the full answerDisagreement about cause is common and is one reason documentation matters. Photos, dates, and any earlier reports about the same issue help. A code inspection produces a third-party view that neither side wrote.
Open the full answerMany states have rules about landlord action taken because a tenant reported conditions, though the specifics vary widely. Ask the inspecting office whether complaints can be anonymous, and keep dated proof of what you reported and when — the sequence is what matters if the question comes up later.
Open the full answerThere is no national answer, and we do not publish a number. Response times are set by state law and sometimes by local housing codes, and they often differ by how serious the condition is. Your state page links the official statute and free legal help.
Open the full answerNo. Written notice, waiting periods, repair-and-deduct, and rent withholding are state questions. Withholding rent without checking is one of the highest-risk moves a renter can make.
Open the full answerPut the request in writing first. Then open your state page for the official chapter, or ask legal aid before you skip a payment.
Open the full answerSecurity deposit
It is set by state law and varies widely, so we do not publish a number here. Your state page links the official statute and a legal-aid guide, which is where the current deadline lives. If a deadline may already have passed, that is a good reason to contact legal aid promptly.
Open the full answerMost states distinguish deterioration from ordinary use — faded paint, lightly worn carpet, small nail holes — from damage such as holes in walls, broken fixtures, or heavy staining. Where the line falls is state-specific and fact-specific, which is why dated move-in and move-out photos matter so much.
Open the full answerAsk in writing for supporting invoices, receipts, or estimates for every charge, and compare each item against your move-in record. Keep the request and the response. If the charges still look unsupported, legal aid or small-claims self-help can explain your options.
Open the full answerIn many states the deposit process depends on the landlord having one, and providing it in writing protects you either way. Keep a copy of when and how you sent it.
Open the full answerSmall-claims court is built for that, and deposit disputes are among its most common cases. Limits, deadlines, and procedures are set by state and county. Your local court's self-help center is the right place to confirm them.
Open the full answerNo. Caps, allowed deductions, and return deadlines are state questions — sometimes city questions. This site does not reprint a number that can go stale.
Open the full answerOpen your state page for the official chapter. Document the unit, return keys as the lease requires, and keep a forwarding address before you send a demand.
Open the full answerLandlord entry and privacy
It is set by state law and sometimes added to by a lease or local ordinance, so we do not publish a number. Your state page links the official statute. If entries are already happening without notice, start the written log now — the record is useful regardless of what the rule turns out to be.
Open the full answerIn most states the rule is about notice and purpose rather than whether the tenant is present. Whether your presence is required is a state and lease question. A dated log of entries is the practical starting point either way.
Open the full answerMost states allow entry without notice for genuine emergencies — fire, flooding, gas, or a condition threatening people or the building. Routine maintenance and showings are generally not emergencies. If 'emergency' is being used for routine visits, note each one in your log.
Open the full answerRefusing lawful entry can create its own problems, including a claimed lease violation. The safer path in most situations is to ask in writing for proper notice, keep the log, and take a documented pattern to legal aid rather than blocking access on the spot.
Open the full answerBoth raise state-specific questions. Recording law varies, and audio recording in particular has consent rules that differ by state. Lock changes may be addressed by state law or your lease. Ask legal aid before doing either.
Open the full answerNo. Entry rules differ for emergencies, repairs, and showings, and the hour-count is a state question. This site does not invent a national number.
Open the full answerWrite down the date, time, who entered, and whether you were told. Then open your state page or ask legal aid.
Open the full answerUnsafe or unlivable conditions
It is the general duty, recognized in most states, for a landlord to keep a rental fit to live in — working heat, safe water, working plumbing and electrical, and freedom from serious hazards. The exact contents come from state statute, local housing code, and court decisions, so they differ from state to state.
Open the full answerIt depends on the state. Some address mold directly, others handle it through general habitability rules or local housing code, and some address it very little. Documenting the water source — a leak, a failed seal, poor ventilation — is usually more actionable than the mold itself, because the water intrusion is what a landlord is asked to fix.
Open the full answerYour city or county building, housing, or health department can inspect rental conditions and issue notices to the owner. 211 can route you to local services. Legal aid can explain what your state's remedies actually are. All three are free.
Open the full answerSome states allow a tenant to end a tenancy over a serious habitability breach, generally with specific notice requirements and conditions. Others do not, or make it much harder. Because getting this wrong can mean owing rent for the remaining term, confirm with legal aid before giving notice.
Open the full answerSeveral systems may apply at once — the lease, state habitability law, any local relocation-assistance ordinance, renters insurance, and disaster assistance if a declaration covers the event. Keep every receipt and the written condemnation notice, call 211 for emergency housing, and bring the tenancy questions to legal aid.
Open the full answerNo. What a landlord must keep working, and what a tenant may do if they do not, is a state question. Federal law does not set a national habitability checklist for private rentals.
Open the full answerPhotograph the condition, write the landlord, and open your state page. Ask the city housing or health department about a complaint process, and ask legal aid before you withhold rent.
Open the full answerReading a notice
Look for a court name, a case or docket number, a judge's name, or a date to appear. If any of those are present, a case has been filed and a response deadline is running — that is the most urgent situation on this site and a reason to contact legal aid today.
Open the full answerMost states require written notice for the notices that end or change a tenancy, and many set rules about how it must be delivered. The specifics are state law. Whatever the rule, record how and when yours arrived.
Open the full answerSometimes, and sometimes not — it depends on the state, the type of notice, and which detail is wrong. It is not something to conclude on your own. Photograph the notice, write down what looks wrong, and bring both to legal aid.
Open the full answerWrite, and keep a copy. Calls leave no record. If a conversation happens anyway, send a short follow-up message the same day summarizing what was said and asking for confirmation.
Open the full answerMoving can end some problems and create others, including claims for unpaid rent or a filing that follows you into tenant screening. Because the consequences depend on the type of notice and your state, this is worth one free call to legal aid before deciding.
Open the full answerNo. A notice to pay, a notice to cure, a notice to vacate, and court papers are different documents. The labels also change by state. Look for a court name and a case number first.
Open the full answerYour state page names the official chapter. If a court is named, call legal aid the same day. This site will not guess a deadline from a photo of a notice.
Open the full answerHousing discrimination
No. This is general information about federal fair housing and HUD's complaint process. Whether your facts are discrimination is a question for HUD, a fair-housing organization, or a lawyer.
Open the full answerNo. HUD takes complaints from people without lawyers. Legal aid and fair-housing organizations can still help you decide what to file and what to attach.
Open the full answerThe federal floor is the same. States and cities often add protected classes. HUD still takes federal complaints even when a city has its own ordinance. Open your state page for the local overlay, and file with HUD if the federal classes are involved.
Open the full answerHUD for the federal floor. Your state page for the official chapter. Your city human-relations or fair-housing office if one exists. Legal aid can help you decide what to file.
Open the full answerRetaliation after a complaint
Not everywhere, and not for every kind of complaint. Many states protect good-faith complaints about habitability or code issues. Whether yours is covered is a state-and-facts question for legal aid.
Open the full answerNo. Protected acts, timing, and remedies vary. Some states have no separate retaliation statute. The work that helps everywhere is a dated timeline: the complaint, then the negative action. Open your state page for the official chapter.
Open the full answerYour state page names the official chapter. Take the timeline to legal aid. Do not wait on a national clock — this site does not print one.
Open the full answerApplications and screening
No. A denial can be about income, credit, criminal record, or rental history and still be lawful in many places. A denial can also be discrimination. HUD and fair-housing organizations take that question. This page explains the federal report-rights floor, not whether your facts are discrimination.
Open the full answerFederal fair-credit rules generally require a notice that names the screening company and tells you that you can get the report. You should not have to buy a third-party 'unlock' to learn which company was used. If that is what happened, write it down and take it to legal aid or the CFPB.
Open the full answerNo. What a landlord may charge to apply, whether it must be refunded, and how far back a record may be considered are state and city questions. This site does not print a cap or a year-count.
Open the full answerKeep the listing, the application, and the denial letter. Ask in writing for the screening company. Open your state page, and take the file to legal aid, a fair-housing organization, or the CFPB if the report is wrong.
Open the full answerGlossary
The written response a tenant files in court after an eviction case is served. Most courts set a deadline for it, and missing that deadline commonly leads to a default judgment. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerTransferring the whole remaining lease to someone else, so they take the tenant's place. Different from a sublet, and usually requires the landlord's permission. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerAn offer of money in exchange for moving out voluntarily and giving up possession. It is a contract; what it gives up depends on how it is written. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerThe city or county office that inspects buildings against the local housing code and can issue notices to a property owner. A free route that runs independently of court. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerA legal concept in some states where conditions become so bad that a tenant is treated as having been forced out. Whether it exists and what it requires is state-specific. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerFixing the problem a notice complains about — paying what is claimed, removing a pet, ending a violation. Some notices allow a cure period; some do not. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerA judgment entered because one side did not respond or appear. In eviction cases this usually means the tenant loses without being heard. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerThe name for an eviction proceeding in some states, including Georgia. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerPaying rent to a third party or the court rather than the landlord, under a process some states provide when repairs are not made. Where it exists it has strict conditions. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerThe body of law prohibiting housing discrimination. Federal law covers a set of protected classes; states and cities frequently add more. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerThe name for an eviction case in some states, including Oregon and Colorado. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerThe duty recognized in most states for a landlord to keep a rental fit to live in. What it covers comes from state law and local housing code. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerStaying past the end of a tenancy. How it is treated — and what it converts the tenancy into — is set by state law. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerA written list of what was deducted from a security deposit and why. Most states require one, on a timeline set by state law. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerA lease term making each co-tenant responsible for the whole rent, not just their share. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerA requirement, usually local, that a landlord state an allowed reason to end a tenancy. Where it exists, the list of allowed reasons is set by the ordinance. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerNonprofit organizations providing free civil legal help to people who qualify. Housing is one of their largest practice areas. Find yours through LawHelp.org. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerSomeone renting a room, often in an owner-occupied home, sometimes under narrower rules than a tenant. The distinction is state-specific and matters a great deal. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerA landlord excluding a tenant by changing locks, removing doors, or removing belongings. Handled separately from the court eviction process in most states, and treated urgently. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerA tenancy that renews each period rather than running for a fixed term. Rules for changing rent or ending it are set by state law. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerA written notice that a landlord wants the tenancy to end. Names differ by state; so do required contents and periods. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerDeterioration from normal use, which generally cannot be charged against a deposit. Where the line falls between wear and damage is state- and fact-specific. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerAppearing in court without a lawyer. Common in eviction and small-claims cases; court self-help centers exist partly for this. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerA characteristic that discrimination law covers. The federal list is a floor; states and cities frequently add categories such as source of income. This is a working definition, not the legal meaning in a given state.
Open the full answerCity desk
They are four different doors. 311 opens a City service request. HPD inspects housing conditions. HCR answers whether a unit is rent-regulated. Housing Court hears possession cases. Calling the wrong one wastes the day you may not have. Match the paper in your hand to the door.
Open the full answerThat is an HPD conditions problem. Photograph it, write the date, and open a 311 request. If it is dangerous tonight, treat it as an emergency. NYC publishes heat-season and hot-water rules on the Tenant Bill of Rights — we do not reprint the temperature or the hour-count here. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerNew York City has additional rules on how broker fees may be charged, and they change. Confirm the current rule on the HPD Tenant Bill of Rights or with legal aid — this desk does not reprint a fee split. Keep every invoice. A fee you already paid is a paper trail, not a closed case.
Open the full answerNew York added a statewide overlay that limits some evictions and some increases — coverage is not every unit, and it is not a substitute for Housing Court procedure. Ask legal aid with your lease and the paper in your hand. Do not treat a social-media summary as the coverage map.
Open the full answerStay Housed LA is eviction defense — workshops and lawyers for eligible tenants. LAHD administers rent stabilization, just-cause, and complaints. Housing Rights Center is fair housing. Mixing them is the wrong phone tree. Confirm hours on their sites.
Open the full answerCoverage is an address-and-unit question the Housing Department answers. Age of the building, the kind of housing, and later just-cause rules are not the same pile. Ask LAHD about this address before you treat a percentage you saw online as the cap.
Open the full answerUnsafe or unhealthy conditions are a code complaint. An illegal rent increase or eviction on a covered unit is an RSO or just-cause complaint. File the one that matches the paper. LAHD handles both doors; they are not interchangeable.
Open the full answerNo. Stay Housed LA is a City-backed eviction-defense network. It is one of the right local doors when a notice or an unlawful detainer arrives. It is not this classroom, and it is not a guarantee. Court papers in Los Angeles County Superior Court are still same-day work.
Open the full answerThree doors. Stay Housed LA (stayhousedla.org) is eviction defense when a notice or unlawful detainer arrives. LAHD (housing.lacity.gov) administers the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, just-cause, and code complaints — coverage is an address question. Housing Rights Center (housingrightscenter.org) takes fair-housing discrimination intake. None of them is the Superior Court.
Open the full answerNot blindly. On 8 September 2026, LAHD’s renter-protection highlights page still described Ordinance Nos. 186585, 186606, and 186607 from 2020. Ask LAHD what applies to this unit now. This desk does not reprint those rules as today’s RSO.
Open the full answerThe Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance covers a large share of Chicago rentals — and not every unit. Building size and housing type matter. The Department of Housing publishes what is in force. A suburb’s ordinance, or a proposal, is not the Chicago RLTO.
Open the full answerCook County Circuit Court, often in the Municipal Department’s housing calls. A landlord notice is not a judgment. Papers that name a court or a case number mean a case has been filed. Legal aid the same day. The RLTO does not replace that court.
Open the full answer311 opens many City requests. Housing-ordinance questions — what the RLTO requires of this landlord — go to the Department of Housing. Put the repair in writing either way. An inspector’s dated notice is a different kind of paper than a text.
Open the full answerNo city rent board sits on top of Texas Chapter 92 here. Repair, deposit, and lockout rules are statewide. Houston 311 and code enforcement handle some conditions. Harris County justice court hears possession cases. Do not import an Austin ordinance.
Open the full answerTexas has specific rules on when a lockout is even discussed, and they are easy to get wrong. Photograph what happened. Call legal aid the same day. 911 if you are locked out tonight and unsafe. This desk does not reprint the lockout procedure.
Open the full answerThe Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is the book. Phoenix adds inspectors and 311, not a rent-control board. Maricopa County justice courts hear possession cases. A Tucson rumor is the wrong county.
Open the full answerNeighborhood Services / 602-262-7844 and 311 are the City conditions doors. Put it in writing first. Do not skip rent until legal aid has read the Arizona act with you.
Open the full answerPennsylvania’s Landlord and Tenant Act is the floor. Philadelphia Licenses and Inspections, the Fair Housing Commission, and local just-cause / good-cause rules for many tenancies are the City layer. Coverage is a unit question. L&I is not a substitute for Municipal Court.
Open the full answerPhiladelphia Municipal Court hears landlord-tenant cases. A notice is a step. A complaint with a court name is a case. Legal aid the same day. Do not use a Pittsburgh process on a Philadelphia address.
Open the full answerTexas Chapter 92 is the book. Code enforcement and 311 are the City doors. Bexar County justice court hears possession cases. Houston or Dallas rules stop at those city lines.
Open the full answerSan Diego has added local tenant-protection and rent rules for many units — coverage is an address question the City administers. California Civil Code is still the floor. A Los Angeles RSO answer is the wrong city. Ask the City housing department about this address.
Open the full answerSame Texas Property Code. Different code shops and different justice courts. Dallas 311 and Dallas County are the doors for a Dallas address. Do not file a Tarrant County process on a Dallas unit.
Open the full answerAustin has added local tenant-protection ordinances on top of Chapter 92. What is in force, and what a court has paused, is a now-question — read the City, not a 2021 flyer. Code enforcement and 311 remain the conditions doors. Travis County justice court hears possession.
Open the full answerThe Rent Board administers rent control and just-cause for many — not all — San Francisco units. Coverage is a unit question. The Department of Building Inspection handles conditions. Those two doors are not the same. Ask the Rent Board about this address before you treat a percentage as the cap.
Open the full answerSan Francisco Superior Court hears unlawful detainers. The Rent Board is not that court. A notice is a step. Court papers are same-day legal aid. Tenant counseling groups in the City are local doors, not this classroom.
Open the full answerThe Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18) is statewide. Seattle’s local ordinances add just-cause, notice, and relocation rules for many tenancies inside the city. The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections and the Renting in Seattle desk are the City doors. Tacoma’s ordinances are a different city.
Open the full answerKing County Superior Court hears unlawful detainer cases. A landlord notice is not a judgment. If the paper names a court, call legal aid the same day. City ordinances do not replace that court.
Open the full answerColorado and Denver have added tenant-protection rules in recent years. What is in force for this address is a now-question — confirm with the City and with legal aid. Do not treat a bill number as the ordinance. County Court hears many evictions.
Open the full answerMany District units fall under rent stabilization administered by DHCD. Coverage is a unit question. The Office of Tenant Advocate is a local door. Superior Court of the District of Columbia hears possession cases. Maryland or Virginia rules do not apply.
Open the full answer311 opens City requests. DHCD handles much of the rent-stabilization stack. The Office of Tenant Advocate helps tenants navigate. Superior Court is where a possession case is heard. Match the paper to the door.
Open the full answerBoston has added local tenant-protection rules on top of Massachusetts law. Coverage and what is in force are City questions — confirm with the Office of Housing and with legal aid. Housing Court is still the possession forum. A Cambridge ordinance is not a Boston ordinance.
Open the full answerThe City of Miami sits inside Miami-Dade County. Florida Chapter 83 is the tenancy book. County and City code enforcement are different doors. County court hears possession. Confirm City of Miami versus unincorporated Dade before you file a complaint.
Open the full answerGeorgia law is the tenancy baseline. Atlanta Code Enforcement and 311 are the City conditions doors. Fulton or DeKalb County Magistrate Court hears many dispossessory cases — confirm the county of the unit. A DeKalb process is not a Fulton process.
Open the full answerIt publishes local rules, screens some notices, and answers coverage questions for City ordinances. It is not a court and it is not legal aid. Multnomah County Circuit Court hears possession cases. Oregon’s landlord-tenant chapter is still the floor.
Open the full answerOregon and Portland have added rules that affect how and when rent may go up for many tenancies. The percentage, the notice, and which units are covered are now-questions — confirm with Rental Services and the official chapter. This desk does not reprint a cap.
Open the full answerNo. A written notice is a step. An FED filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court is a case. If the paper names the court, call legal aid the same day. Rental Services can explain local notice rules; it cannot appear for you.
Open the full answerCommunity Alliance of Tenants (oregoncat.org) is a tenants union — education and organizing. oregonrentersrights.org is a self-help handbook hub and a pointer to the Eviction Defense Project. 211info.org is regional 211 for rent, shelter, food, and utilities. ORS Chapter 90 is the statute. Portland Rental Services is the City office. They are not interchangeable.
Open the full answerNo. Oakland’s Rent Adjustment Program is a different ordinance, a different board, and a different coverage map. Berkeley is a third city. Ask RAP about this Oakland address. California Civil Code remains the floor.
Open the full answerMinnesota Chapter 504B is shared. The City ordinances are not. Minneapolis has its own rental licensing and tenant-protection rules. St. Paul is a separate desk on this site. Use the city of the unit.
Open the full answer36th District Court hears many landlord-tenant cases in Detroit. Michigan law is the baseline. Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental and 311 are the City conditions doors. A notice is not a judgment.
Open the full answerConfirm the City of Las Vegas versus unincorporated Clark County. Nevada’s residential statutes are the book. Justice court hears many evictions. A Henderson or North Las Vegas ordinance is a different city.
Open the full answerTennessee’s uniform act is not automatic in every county. Confirm adoption for Davidson County. Metro Codes and 311 are the conditions doors. General Sessions hears many evictions. A Memphis process is not a Nashville process.
Open the full answerMaryland is the floor. Baltimore City has added local rental-licensing and tenant-protection rules. Housing and 311 are the City doors. District Court hears rent court / failure-to-pay cases. Baltimore County is a different government.
Open the full answerYes — the Apartment Rent Ordinance and related just-cause rules cover many units. Coverage is an address question the City administers. A San Francisco or Oakland answer is the wrong city. California Civil Code is still the floor.
Open the full answerSacramento has local tenant-protection and just-cause rules for many tenancies on top of the Civil Code. Confirm coverage with the City. Code enforcement and 311 are the conditions doors. A San Francisco Rent Board process does not apply here.
Open the full answerNo. Long Beach has its own just-cause and rent-stabilization stack. LAHD does not administer a Long Beach unit. Confirm with the City of Long Beach. California Civil Code remains the floor.
Open the full answerFlorida Chapter 83 is the book either way. Code enforcement depends on the address. County court hears possession. Confirm City of Tampa versus the County before you file a complaint.
Open the full answerLouisiana’s Civil Code lease articles are the statewide baseline — a different legal family than most states. The City layer is Code Enforcement and 311. First City Court and other parish courts hear many eviction cases. Do not import a Texas or Florida process.
Open the full answerNewark’s rent-control ordinance covers many units, on top of New Jersey’s statewide Anti-Eviction Act. Coverage is a unit question the City administers. Jersey City is a different ordinance. Confirm with Newark, not with a neighbor’s city.
Open the full answerHawaiʻi Revised Statutes are the statewide book. The consolidated City and County adds code enforcement. District Court hears many landlord-tenant cases. Neighbor-island rules are not Honolulu rules.
Open the full answerWisconsin Chapter 704 is the floor. Milwaukee has local property and rental-inspection rules. 311 is the City door. Small-claims eviction in Milwaukee County is the possession forum. A Madison ordinance is not Milwaukee’s.
Open the full answerOhio Revised Code Chapter 5321 is shared. The City codes and the courts are not. Franklin County Municipal Court hears many Columbus forcible-entry cases. Cleveland’s rental-registration and lead-safe rules do not apply here.
Open the full answerOhio Chapter 5321 is the book. Cleveland has added rental-registration and lead-safe requirements for many units. Building and Housing plus 311 are the City doors. Confirm registration status for the unit. Columbus rules do not apply.
Open the full answerSame Texas Property Code. Tarrant County justice court and Fort Worth Code Compliance for a Fort Worth address. Dallas County is the wrong stack. Do not mix them.
Open the full answerDuval and the City share a government, which changes which door you knock on for code. Florida Chapter 83 is still the tenancy book. County court hears possession. A Miami-Dade process is not a Duval process.
Open the full answerMarion County township small-claims courts hear many possession cases. The township named on the paper matters. Indiana statutes are the baseline. A Chicago RLTO process does not apply.
Open the full answerThe state line is a real legal line. This desk is Kansas City, Missouri. Confirm the Missouri county of the unit — Jackson, Clay, or Platte — before you file or answer. Kansas (the state) is a different stack.
Open the full answerThey are separate governments. A County ordinance or court is the wrong stack for a City address. Missouri statutes are the floor. The City Building Division inspects many conditions inside the City.
Open the full answerNew Mexico’s Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act is the statewide book. Albuquerque Code Enforcement and 311 are the City doors. Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court hears many cases. Santa Fe rules do not apply here.
Open the full answerSame Arizona act. Different county court — Pima, not Maricopa. Tucson 311 / 792-CITY is the City door. Phoenix rumors are the wrong stack.
Open the full answerTennessee’s uniform act is not automatic everywhere. Confirm for Shelby County. Memphis Code Enforcement and 311 are the conditions doors. General Sessions hears many evictions. A Nashville Metro process is not a Memphis process.
Open the full answerMost evictions start in a magisterial district court. The district number on the paper matters. Pittsburgh PLI inspects conditions. Philadelphia L&I is a different city. Pennsylvania’s Landlord and Tenant Act is the floor.
Open the full answerFlorida Chapter 83 is the book. Code enforcement depends on the address. County court hears possession. A Miami-Dade or Tampa process is not an Orange County process.
Open the full answerJersey City’s rent-leveling ordinance covers many units, on top of New Jersey’s statewide Anti-Eviction Act. Newark’s ordinance is a different city. Confirm with the Division of Rent Leveling. Coverage is a unit question.
Open the full answerWake County small claims — often called summary ejectment. North Carolina Chapter 42 is the book. Raleigh 311/code is the conditions door. A Charlotte ordinance is not a Raleigh ordinance.
Open the full answerUtah’s Fit Premises Act is the book. Confirm City versus County for the address. Civic Enforcement / 311 is the City door. Justice court hears many evictions.
Open the full answerRCW 59.18 is shared. Tacoma’s local tenant-protection ordinances are not Seattle’s. Pierce County Superior Court hears unlawful detainer. A Seattle flyer is the wrong stack.
Open the full answerMinnesota Chapter 504B is shared. St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections and local tenant-protection ordinances are the City layer. Minneapolis is a different desk on this site. Ramsey County Housing Court hears many cases.
Open the full answerNo. Buffalo is not New York City. New York State Real Property Law is the book. Buffalo City Court hears many eviction cases. 311 is the City door. Do not call NYC HPD about a Buffalo unit.
Open the full answerNorth Carolina Chapter 42 is the book. Charlotte 311/code is the conditions door. Mecklenburg County small claims — summary ejectment hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerCharlotte 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. North Carolina Chapter 42 is the book. Charlotte 311/code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerConfirm URLTA for Jefferson County. Louisville Metro Codes is the conditions door. Jefferson District Court — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerLouisville Metro 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Confirm URLTA for Jefferson County. Louisville Metro Codes is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerOklahoma state law is the book. Oklahoma City 311/code is the conditions door. Oklahoma County district / small claims — confirm the paper hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerOklahoma City 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Oklahoma state law is the book. Oklahoma City 311/code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerOklahoma state law is the book. Tulsa Working in Neighborhoods is the conditions door. Tulsa County district / small claims — confirm the paper hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerTulsa Working in Neighborhoods and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Oklahoma state law is the book. Tulsa Working in Neighborhoods is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerCalifornia Civil Code is the floor. Fresno 311/code is the conditions door. Confirm any local just-cause coverage with the City. Fresno County Superior Court — unlawful detainer hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerCity of Fresno — Code Enforcement and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. California Civil Code is the floor. Fresno 311/code is the conditions door. Confirm any local just-cause coverage with the City. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerArizona state law is the main rulebook. Mesa adds inspectors and 311, not a rent board. Maricopa County justice court hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerMesa 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Arizona state law is the main rulebook. Mesa adds inspectors and 311, not a rent board. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerNebraska URLTA is the book. Omaha 311/code is the conditions door. Douglas County Court — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerOmaha 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Nebraska URLTA is the book. Omaha 311/code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerLouisiana Civil Code is the book. Confirm East Baton Rouge Parish for the court. East Baton Rouge Parish court — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerCity of Baton Rouge / East Baton Rouge Parish and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Louisiana Civil Code is the book. Confirm East Baton Rouge Parish for the court. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerOhio Chapter 5321 is the book. Cincinnati Buildings and Inspections is the conditions door. Hamilton County Municipal Court hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerCincinnati 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Ohio Chapter 5321 is the book. Cincinnati Buildings and Inspections is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerVirginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door. Richmond General District Court — unlawful detainer hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerRichmond 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Virginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerVirginia VRLTA is the book. Virginia Beach code enforcement is the conditions door. Virginia Beach General District Court hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerVirginia Beach — Citizen Services and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Virginia VRLTA is the book. Virginia Beach code enforcement is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerNorth Carolina Chapter 42 is the book. Greensboro 311/code is the conditions door. Guilford County small claims — summary ejectment hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerGreensboro 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. North Carolina Chapter 42 is the book. Greensboro 311/code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerColorado state law is the book. Colorado Springs code is the conditions door — not Denver’s stack. El Paso County Court — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerColorado Springs — Code Enforcement and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Colorado state law is the book. Colorado Springs code is the conditions door — not Denver’s stack. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerColorado state law is the book. Confirm the Colorado county of the unit. Denver is a different city. Arapahoe, Adams, or Douglas County — confirm the paper hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerAurora 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Colorado state law is the book. Confirm the Colorado county of the unit. Denver is a different city. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerIdaho state law is the book. Boise PDS/311 is the conditions door. Ada County magistrate court — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerCity of Boise — Planning and Development Services and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Idaho state law is the book. Boise PDS/311 is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerIowa URLTA is the book. Des Moines Neighborhood Inspection is the conditions door. Polk County small claims — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerDes Moines 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Iowa URLTA is the book. Des Moines Neighborhood Inspection is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerArkansas state law is the book. Little Rock 311/code is the conditions door. Pulaski County District Court — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerLittle Rock 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Arkansas state law is the book. Little Rock 311/code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerAlabama state law is the book. Birmingham 311/inspections is the conditions door. Jefferson County District Court — unlawful detainer hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerBirmingham 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Alabama state law is the book. Birmingham 311/inspections is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerSouth Carolina’s residential act is the book. Charleston Livability is the conditions door. Charleston County magistrate court hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerCity of Charleston — Livability and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. South Carolina’s residential act is the book. Charleston Livability is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerSouth Carolina’s residential act is the book. Columbia 311/code is the conditions door. Richland County magistrate court hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerColumbia 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. South Carolina’s residential act is the book. Columbia 311/code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerAlaska URLTA is the book. Municipality of Anchorage code is the conditions door. Alaska District Court — Anchorage hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerMunicipality of Anchorage and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Alaska URLTA is the book. Municipality of Anchorage code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerRhode Island’s residential act is the book. Providence Inspections and Standards is the conditions door. Rhode Island District Court — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerProvidence Inspections and Standards and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Rhode Island’s residential act is the book. Providence Inspections and Standards is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerConnecticut state law is the book. Hartford Licenses and Inspections is the conditions door. Connecticut Housing Session — Hartford hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerHartford 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Connecticut state law is the book. Hartford Licenses and Inspections is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerKansas RLTA is the book. Wichita MABCD/311 is the conditions door. Sedgwick County District Court — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerWichita 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Kansas RLTA is the book. Wichita MABCD/311 is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerNevada state law is the book. Reno 311/code is the conditions door — not Las Vegas. Washoe County justice court hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerReno 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Nevada state law is the book. Reno 311/code is the conditions door — not Las Vegas. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerWashington’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act is the floor. Spokane’s rental program is local — confirm coverage. Spokane County Superior Court — unlawful detainer hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerCity of Spokane — Code Enforcement and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Washington’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act is the floor. Spokane’s rental program is local — confirm coverage. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerMichigan state law is the book. Grand Rapids 311/code is the conditions door. 61st District Court — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerGrand Rapids 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Michigan state law is the book. Grand Rapids 311/code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerNew York State law is the book. Rochester City Court and 311 are the local doors — not NYC HPD. Rochester City Court — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerCity of Rochester 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. New York State law is the book. Rochester City Court and 311 are the local doors — not NYC HPD. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerConfirm URLTA adoption for Hamilton County. Chattanooga 311/code is the conditions door. Hamilton County General Sessions — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerChattanooga 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Confirm URLTA adoption for Hamilton County. Chattanooga 311/code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerConfirm URLTA adoption for Knox County. Knoxville Codes is the conditions door. Knox County General Sessions — landlord-tenant hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Open the full answerKnoxville 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Confirm URLTA adoption for Knox County. Knoxville Codes is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Open the full answerState desk
Many Alabama possession cases are filed as unlawful detainer in district court. A landlord notice is a step. Papers that name a court or a case number mean a case has been filed. Call legal aid the same day. Do not import a Georgia magistrate dispossessory process.
Open the full answerAlabama adopted a version of the URLTA. The official chapter is Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603. We name it. We do not reprint a day-count. Birmingham 311 is a City conditions door, not the statute.
Open the full answerRead it for a court name. Alaska District Court is a common possession forum. Keep the paper. Legal aid the same day if a court is named. 211 still finds local services.
Open the full answerJustice courts hear most residential eviction cases. Phoenix is Maricopa County; Tucson is Pima County. Mixing those counties is the wrong stack. A landlord notice is not a judgment.
Open the full answerYes — the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is the book. Cities add inspectors and 311, not a statewide rent board. Confirm the county of the unit before you file or answer.
Open the full answerDistrict Court hears many landlord-tenant cases. Little Rock is Pulaski County. A landlord notice is a step. Court papers are same-day legal aid. Do not import a Missouri process.
Open the full answerYes — Ark. Code §§ 18-17-101 to 18-17-913. We name the chapter. We do not reprint a deposit cap or a notice period.
Open the full answerNo. The Civil Code is the statewide floor. Many cities — Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Berkeley, Santa Monica — run their own rent or just-cause programs. Coverage is an address question the city answers. Do not treat an LA RSO answer as a Fresno answer.
Open the full answerThat is the Superior Court case to recover possession. A landlord notice is a step. An unlawful detainer with a case number is a case. Legal aid the same day. Stay Housed LA is a Los Angeles door, not a statewide court.
Open the full answerThe Attorney General’s landlord-tenant page and California Legislative Information for the Civil Code. LawHelpCA is the legal-aid directory. This classroom cites those. It does not replace them.
Open the full answerColorado has added statewide tenant-protection statutes in recent years, on top of habitability rules. What is in force for this address is a now-question — confirm the official chapter and the city. A Denver ordinance is not a Colorado Springs ordinance.
Open the full answerCounty Court hears many residential evictions. Confirm the county of the unit. A landlord notice is not a judgment.
Open the full answerConnecticut hears many landlord-tenant cases in a Housing Session of the Superior Court. A notice is a step. Housing Session papers are same-day legal aid. Hartford Licenses and Inspections is not that court.
Open the full answerYes — statewide landlord-tenant statutes are the book. Cities add inspectors. Confirm Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-1 to 47a-75 rather than a New York Housing Court rumor.
Open the full answerJustice of the Peace Court hears many landlord-tenant cases. Delaware’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Code is the book. Pennsylvania’s Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 stops at the state line.
Open the full answerMany District units fall under rent stabilization administered by DHCD. Coverage is a unit question. The Office of Tenant Advocate is a local door. Maryland or Virginia rules do not apply.
Open the full answerSuperior Court of the District of Columbia. A notice is a step. Court papers are same-day legal aid. 311 and DHCD are City doors, not the court.
Open the full answerThe Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is statewide. City and county code enforcement, and which county court hears the case, are local. Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, and Orange are different stacks. Confirm the county of the unit.
Open the full answerCounty court hears most residential evictions. A landlord notice is a step. Papers that name the county court are a case. Legal aid the same day.
Open the full answerThat is Georgia’s eviction case, often filed in magistrate court. A notice is a step. A dispossessory with a court name is a case. Fulton and DeKalb are different counties — confirm which one the unit sits in.
Open the full answerThe Department of Community Affairs and the Attorney General publish a Landlord-Tenant Handbook. Title 44 of the Official Code is the statute. This classroom cites those. It does not reprint a day-count.
Open the full answerHawaiʻi Revised Statutes are statewide. The City and County of Honolulu is a consolidated government with its own code shop. District Court hears many cases. Neighbor-island rules and courts are not Honolulu’s.
Open the full answerMagistrate court hears many landlord-tenant cases. Ada County is Boise. Idaho statutes are the book. A Washington RCW 59.18 process does not apply.
Open the full answerNo. Illinois statutes are the statewide floor. Chicago’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (Municipal Code ch. 5-12) covers a large share of Chicago units — and not every unit, and not the suburbs. Cook County suburbs are a different ordinance. Confirm the address.
Open the full answerCircuit Court, often in a municipal housing call in Chicago. A notice is a step. A forcible-entry filing is a case. Legal aid the same day.
Open the full answerTownship small-claims courts hear many possession cases in Marion County (Indianapolis). The township named on the paper matters. Indiana statutes are the baseline. A Chicago RLTO process does not apply.
Open the full answerYes — Iowa Code §§ 562A.1 to 562A.37. Small claims hears many evictions. Des Moines Neighborhood Inspection is a City door, not the statute. We do not reprint a day-count.
Open the full answerThe state line is a real legal line. Kansas’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is the Kansas book. Missouri has its own chapter. Wichita is Sedgwick County District Court. Do not mix them.
Open the full answerKentucky’s uniform act is not automatic in every county. Confirm adoption for the county of the unit — Jefferson County (Louisville) is a different confirmation than Fayette (Lexington). District Court hears many evictions.
Open the full answerLease rules live in the Civil Code — a different legal family than most of the country. Parish courts hear many evictions. New Orleans and Baton Rouge are different parish stacks. Do not import a Texas Property Code process.
Open the full answerParish courts — First City Court in parts of New Orleans, other parish courts elsewhere. Confirm the parish on the paper. A notice is not a judgment.
Open the full answerDistrict Court hears many Forcible Entry and Detainer cases. Maine landlord-tenant statutes are the book. A Massachusetts Housing Court process does not apply.
Open the full answerDistrict Court hears many failure-to-pay and tenant-holding-over cases, often called rent court. Baltimore City is not Baltimore County. Confirm the government of the address. A notice is a step.
Open the full answerYes — Maryland and some counties add protected classes and local rental-licensing rules. Baltimore City has its own stack. Confirm with the City or County housing office, not with a DC DHCD rumor.
Open the full answerThat is the eviction case, often heard in Housing Court where a session exists, otherwise District Court. A notice to quit is a step. Summary-process papers are same-day legal aid.
Open the full answerBoston has added local tenant-protection rules on top of Massachusetts law. Cambridge is a different city. Confirm with the City of Boston Office of Housing. We do not reprint a cap.
Open the full answerDistrict Court. Detroit’s 36th District is not Grand Rapids’ 61st. A notice is a step. Court papers are same-day legal aid. Michigan statutes are the floor.
Open the full answerHousing Court in some Twin Cities counties; district court elsewhere. Confirm the county on the paper. A notice is not a judgment.
Open the full answerJustice court hears many landlord-tenant cases. Mississippi’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is the book. A Louisiana Civil Code process does not apply.
Open the full answerThree different governments. Missouri statutes are the floor. Kansas City, Missouri is not Kansas City, Kansas. Confirm the county — Jackson, Clay, Platte, or the City of St. Louis.
Open the full answerAssociate circuit or other local court named on the paper. A notice is a step. Legal aid the same day if a court is named.
Open the full answerMontana has a Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Mont. Code Title 70, chapter 24). Justice court hears many cases. A Colorado ordinance does not apply. We name the chapter. We do not reprint a number.
Open the full answerYes — Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449. County Court hears many evictions. Omaha and Lincoln are different City doors. A Iowa small-claims rumor is the wrong state.
Open the full answerNevada’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is statewide. Justice court hears many evictions. Clark County (Las Vegas) is not Washoe County (Reno). Confirm the city versus unincorporated county for code complaints.
Open the full answerCircuit Court, District Division, hears many landlord-tenant cases. RSA 540 and 540-A are the books. A Massachusetts Housing Court process does not apply.
Open the full answerNew Jersey’s statewide Anti-Eviction Act lists grounds for many evictions — it is not a rumor, and coverage still depends on the housing. Special Civil Part / landlord-tenant court hears the case. A New York Housing Court process does not apply.
Open the full answerMany New Jersey cities run their own rent-leveling ordinances on top of the statewide act. Newark’s ordinance is not Jersey City’s. Coverage is a unit question the City administers. Confirm with that city’s rent office.
Open the full answerThat is New Mexico’s statewide residential book (N.M. Stat. §§ 47-8-1 to 47-8-51). Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court hears many Albuquerque cases. Santa Fe is a different city. We name the chapter. We do not reprint a day-count.
Open the full answerNo. Real Property Law and the RPAPL are statewide. NYC adds the Housing Maintenance Code, HPD, 311, and Housing Court in the five boroughs. HCR administers rent-regulated housing. Buffalo, Rochester, and the rest of the state are not HPD. Do not call NYC HPD about an upstate unit.
Open the full answerThat is the court case to recover possession. In the five boroughs it is NYC Housing Court. Elsewhere it is often City Court or another local court named on the paper. A landlord notice is a step. Court papers are same-day legal aid.
Open the full answerNo. Rent-regulated status is a unit question HCR answers. Good Cause is a statewide overlay with its own exemptions. Coverage is not every unit. Ask legal aid with the lease. Do not treat a social-media summary as the map.
Open the full answerThat is the small-claims eviction case, often in the county of the unit — Wake for Raleigh, Mecklenburg for Charlotte, Guilford for Greensboro. A notice is a step. Summary-ejectment papers are same-day legal aid. Chapter 42 is the book.
Open the full answerN.D. Cent. Code chapter 47-16 (leasing of real property) is the starting point. District Court hears many cases. A Minnesota Chapter 504B process does not apply.
Open the full answerOhio Revised Code Chapter 5321 is shared. City codes and courts are not. Cleveland has added rental-registration and lead-safe rules. Columbus is Franklin County Municipal Court. Cincinnati is Hamilton County Municipal Court. Use the city of the unit.
Open the full answerThat is the possession case in municipal or county court. A notice is a step. Papers that name the court are a case. Legal aid the same day.
Open the full answerSame Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Different city code shops and different county courts. Do not mix them. A Texas justice-court process does not apply.
Open the full answerCommunity Alliance of Tenants names those session laws on their Know Your Rights page: SB 608 (just-cause / rent-increase overlay), SB 611 (rent-cap protections), and House Bill 2001 (eviction timelines). The names are real. The current text is a now-question in ORS Chapter 90. We do not reprint a cap or a day-count.
Open the full answerCommunity Alliance of Tenants is a tenants union. oregonrentersrights.org is a self-help handbook hub and a pointer to the Eviction Defense Project. 211info.org is regional 211. Oregon Law Help is legal aid. Four different doors. ORS Chapter 90 is the statute.
Open the full answerCommunity Alliance of Tenants publishes repair, move-out, and deposit samples on oregoncat.org/know-your-rights. oregonrentersrights.org publishes handbooks and letters. This classroom points at those files. It does not host a copy that will go stale.
Open the full answerMost Pennsylvania evictions start in a magisterial district court. Philadelphia Municipal Court is the City exception. Pittsburgh PLI is not Philadelphia L&I. The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 is the statewide floor.
Open the full answerYes — Licenses and Inspections, the Fair Housing Commission, and local just-cause rules for many tenancies. Coverage is a unit question. A Pittsburgh process is the wrong city.
Open the full answerDistrict Court hears many landlord-tenant cases. The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is the book. Providence Inspections and Standards is a City door, not the court. Massachusetts Housing Court does not apply.
Open the full answerMagistrate court hears many cases. The SCRLTA is the statewide book. Charleston Livability is not Columbia code. Confirm the county on the paper.
Open the full answerS.D. Codified Laws chapter 43-32 is the starting point. Circuit Court hears many cases. A Minnesota or Iowa process does not apply. We name the chapter. We do not reprint a number.
Open the full answerThe uniform act is not automatic everywhere. Confirm adoption for Davidson (Nashville), Shelby (Memphis), Knox (Knoxville), or Hamilton (Chattanooga). General Sessions hears many evictions. A Nashville Metro process is not a Memphis process.
Open the full answerGeneral Sessions Court in most counties. A notice is a step. Court papers are same-day legal aid.
Open the full answerJustice court. Houston is Harris County; Dallas is Dallas County; Fort Worth is Tarrant; Austin is Travis; San Antonio is Bexar. Mixing counties is the wrong stack. A landlord notice is not a judgment.
Open the full answerNo. Chapter 92 of the Property Code is the book. Cities add code enforcement and, in some cases, local tenant-protection ordinances that change. Austin’s stack is not Houston’s. Confirm what is in force with the City — not a 2021 flyer.
Open the full answerTexas has specific statutory rules on lockouts, and they are easy to get wrong. Photograph what happened. Call legal aid the same day. 911 if you are locked out tonight and unsafe. This desk does not reprint the lockout procedure.
Open the full answerUtah Code §§ 57-22-1 to 57-22-7 is the habitability book. Justice court hears many evictions. Salt Lake City versus Salt Lake County is a real line for code complaints.
Open the full answerSuperior Court hears many landlord-tenant cases. Title 9 residential rental statutes are the book. A New Hampshire Circuit Court process does not apply.
Open the full answerThat is the General District Court possession case. Richmond is not Virginia Beach. The VRLTA is statewide. A Maryland rent-court process does not apply.
Open the full answerThe VRLTA is the book. City code enforcement is local. Confirm City of Virginia Beach versus another independent city or county before you file a complaint.
Open the full answerRCW 59.18 is statewide. Seattle, Tacoma, and other cities have added local just-cause, notice, and relocation rules. Those ordinances stop at the city line. Spokane has its own rental program. Use the city of the unit.
Open the full answerSuperior Court hears unlawful detainer cases. King County for Seattle; Pierce for Tacoma; Spokane County for Spokane. A landlord notice is not a judgment. City ordinances do not replace that court.
Open the full answerMagistrate court hears many landlord-tenant cases. W. Va. Code chapter 37, article 6 is a starting point. An Ohio or Virginia process does not apply.
Open the full answerWisconsin Chapter 704 is the floor. Milwaukee has local rental-inspection rules. Small-claims eviction in Milwaukee County is not a Madison ordinance. Confirm the city of the unit.
Open the full answerSmall claims. A notice is a step. Court papers are same-day legal aid.
Open the full answerWyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1201 to 1-21-1211 address residential rental property. Circuit Court hears many cases. A Colorado tenant-protection rumor is the wrong state. We name the chapter. We do not reprint a number.
Open the full answerBy state
Caps, notice periods, and entry hours are state questions. Search a state for the official chapter.
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org