State Lease Requirements Checker

California has some of the most extensive mandatory disclosure requirements in the US. Landlords must disclose the presence of mold, any death on the property in the last 3 years, bedbug history, smoking policy, the presence of a registered sex offender database, military ordnance locations, flood hazard status, methamphetamine contamination history (if applicable), shared utility arrangements, and pest control product use. The federal lead paint disclosure is also required for pre-1978 housing. Failure to make any required disclosure can expose the landlord to civil liability.

Texas requires landlords to disclose their name and contact information in writing in the lease. Texas also requires a disclosure of security device requirements (smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, security locks), a move-in condition form, and a mold disclosure notice. The federal lead paint disclosure applies to pre-1978 properties. Landlords must also disclose information about registered sex offender databases. Texas Property Code sets out these requirements in Chapters 92 and 94.

New York requires landlords to disclose the presence of any known bedbug infestation history, window guard requirements for families with children under 10, carbon monoxide detector installation, and any known mold presence. In New York City, additional requirements apply: a lead paint inspection report for pre-1960 buildings in units with children under 6, and disclosure of rent stabilisation status. The federal lead paint disclosure applies to all pre-1978 housing statewide.

Yes. Florida is one of the few states that requires landlords to include a radon gas disclosure notice in all lease agreements, regardless of whether elevated levels have been detected. The disclosure must state that radon is a naturally occurring gas that can present health risks and that testing is available. Florida Statutes Section 404.056 requires this disclosure for all residential leases. Landlords who omit it risk voiding the lease provision under some interpretations of Florida law.

Federal law requires landlords and sellers of housing built before 1978 to disclose known lead-based paint hazards and provide a government-approved lead hazard information pamphlet. The disclosure must be made before signing a lease or purchase agreement. Tenants have a 10-day window to conduct a risk assessment or inspection before being obligated to proceed. Landlords who violate this requirement face fines of up to $16,773 per violation from the EPA. The requirement applies in all 50 states for any residential property built before 1978.

It depends on the state. California requires landlords to disclose any death that occurred on the property within the past 3 years, except deaths from HIV/AIDS, which are specifically exempt. Most other states do not require disclosure of a death unless the tenant asks. Some states, including Alaska, require disclosure if asked. If you want to know whether someone died on a property, ask directly in writing before signing. The landlord’s response (or non-response) may be more informative than what the law requires.

A move-in inspection is a written record of the condition of the property at the start of a tenancy. Many states require landlords to provide a move-in inspection form or checklist, allow the tenant to document the condition, and retain a copy. States that require it include Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, and Wisconsin, among others. Even where not required, completing a move-in inspection with photos is strongly advisable for both parties, as it is the primary evidence in security deposit disputes.

The consequences depend on which disclosure was missed and which state applies. For the federal lead paint disclosure, the EPA can impose fines of up to $16,773 per violation. For state disclosures, missing a required disclosure can give the tenant the right to terminate the lease, withhold or recover a security deposit, or sue for damages. In California, missing certain disclosures (mold, death, shared utilities) can expose the landlord to civil liability. Landlords should use a state-specific lease checklist to verify they have met all disclosure requirements before a tenant signs.

Most state disclosure requirements apply equally to furnished and unfurnished rentals. California allows a slightly higher security deposit cap for furnished properties, which is a related but separate issue from disclosures. If a furnished rental includes appliances, some states require disclosure of appliance conditions in the move-in inspection report. In short-term rental or Airbnb-type situations, state disclosure laws may apply differently, and local short-term rental ordinances add another layer of requirements.

Yes, in most states. Disclosure obligations apply to residential tenancies regardless of whether the lease is written or verbal. A landlord cannot avoid a disclosure requirement by entering into an informal agreement. However, in practice, enforcing disclosure requirements against a landlord who made no written disclosures is more difficult without a written lease that documents what was or was not provided. A written lease is always the safer choice for both parties, as it documents the terms and any disclosures made.