Residential tenancies are governed by several layers of rules at once. Knowing which layer applies is the first step to using any lease or notice correctly.
- Federal law sets baseline rules that apply everywhere, such as the Fair Housing Act, lead-based paint disclosure for pre-1978 housing and the Fair Credit Reporting Act for screening.
- State law covers most of the tenancy: security deposit limits and return deadlines, notice periods, entry rules, habitability and eviction procedure.
- Local law can add rent stabilization, just-cause eviction, registration, inspection and extra notice requirements.
- The lease fills in the rest, but it cannot override protections that the law gives tenants.
This course explains the common building blocks. It is general education, not legal advice. Rules differ by state and city, so have a local landlord-tenant attorney review your documents before you rely on them.
Action item
Find your state’s landlord-tenant statute and any city or county rental ordinance, and save the links in one place.