Required Legal Notices Landlords Must Provide to Tenants

Answer

Landlords must give tenants certain **written legal notices** before or during a tenancy. These notices protect tenant safety, privacy, and consumer rights and also limit landlord liability. Required disclosures vary: some come from federal law, many depend on state or local rules, and others arise from how you screen or hold tenancy funds.

Common notices you should expect to give or include in a lease:

• Lead-based paint disclosure — federal law requires a written disclosure and any available lead-hazard records for most housing built before 1978, plus a tenant acknowledgment and EPA/HUD pamphlet. This applies to rentals and federally assisted housing.
• Security-deposit information — many states require a written statement describing the deposit amount, where it’s held (e.g., escrow account), allowable deductions, interest rules, and the timeline for returning it at move-out.
• Consumer-report / screening notices (FCRA) — if you use credit or background reports, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires a pre-screen disclosure and, when you take adverse action (deny, require a co-signer, raise deposit), an adverse-action notice with statutorily required content.
• Notice-of-entry and privacy rules — most states require advance written or verbal notice (commonly 24–48 hours) before non-emergency entry for inspections or repairs; local ordinances can impose stricter rules.
• Lease termination, rent-increase and notice-to-vacate — landlords must give written notice following state timelines (often 30–60 days for rent increases or termination of month-to-month tenancies) before changing terms or starting eviction.
• Local-specific disclosures — many cities/states require additional notices (bedbug or mold history, security system policies, rent-control registration, smoke/CO detector statements, or municipal relocation assistance) — these vary widely by jurisdiction.

Best practices: include required language in your lease or a signed addendum, provide copies and obtain tenant acknowledgement, and keep dated records of deliveries. When you rely on consumer reports or withhold deposit funds, document reasoning and provide any required notices promptly. Because statutes and deadlines differ dramatically by state and locality, landlords should tailor notices to the property’s jurisdiction and retain proof of compliance.

Finally, do not treat this as legal advice — it’s advisable to consult a licensed attorney or your local housing agency to confirm which specific notices and timelines apply where your property sits and to ensure your lease language meets current federal, state, and municipal requirements.