Renters' Rights Information for Your State

Throughout the U.S., renters have important legal rights to protect them and ensure safe, habitable living conditions. These rights often include the ability to break a lease, withhold rent if needed repairs aren’t made, and use a "repair and deduct" remedy when landlords fail to address critical issues.

Renters’ rights vary from state to state, with some states providing more protections than others. For example, one of the rights provided under California law, and in many other states, is the right to "repair and deduct." 

Another tenant right in many states is the right to withhold rent when a landlord doesn’t make necessary repairs that affect the habitability of the rental unit. But certain conditions apply, and the specific procedures and conditions to withhold rent significantly differ between jurisdictions.

Tenants can protect their rights by learning about the local, state, and federal laws that govern rental housing.