Renter rights guides

Plain-language guides to the situations renters run into most — getting a security deposit back, forcing a repair, handling a landlord who enters without notice, and reading an eviction notice. Each links into the state-by-state tool for the exact rule where you live.

• New renter laws that took effect July 1, 2026 — Virginia renters now get 14 days — not 5 — to pay overdue rent, plus new payment and fee protections. Washington set its 2027 rent cap at 10%. Florida's rumored 5-day notice never passed. What actually changed, with bill numbers.
• Normal wear and tear vs. damage: what a landlord can actually deduct — Faded paint and worn carpet are wear and tear — and never a valid deposit deduction. A burn, a hole, or a broken fixture is damage. Knowing the line protects your deposit.
• Withholding rent for repairs: when it's legal and when it backfires — Withholding rent can pressure a landlord into fixing a serious problem — or get you evicted, if your state doesn't allow it. Here's how to tell the difference before you stop paying.
• Security deposit return: your rights and the deadline that matters — Most states give your landlord a fixed number of days to return your deposit with an itemized list of deductions. Miss it, and the landlord may owe you penalties. Here is how the deadline works.
• What to do when your landlord won't make repairs — Broken heat, no hot water, a leak that won't stop — most states require landlords to keep rentals habitable. Here is the notice-first process and the remedies that actually hold up.
• Can your landlord enter without notice? — Many states require 24 or 48 hours' advance notice before a landlord can enter for non-emergencies. Some have no statewide rule at all. Here is how to know which applies to you.
• Reading an eviction notice — what's legal and your timeline — An eviction notice is not an eviction. It is the first step, with a deadline you can often cure. Here is how to read the notice, count the days, and know your options.

Updated July 2026