🔧 HABITABILITY LAW · BY STATE
Habitability law, state by state
Every residential lease in the United States carries an implied warranty of habitability in nearly all states: the landlord must keep the unit fit to live in — heat, water, electricity, structural safety, freedom from serious pests — whether or not the lease says so. Lease clauses that try to waive it are generally void.
Pick your state
Every state page carries a verified citation linked to the primary source — no AI-generated statutes, ever. More states as we verify them.
What habitability law covers
What "habitable" meansWorking heat and hot water, functioning plumbing and electricity, a structurally sound and weatherproof building, and compliance with local housing codes. The exact list comes from state statute and case law.
Waivers are voidA lease clause saying the tenant accepts the unit "as-is" or waives repair obligations generally cannot defeat the implied warranty for essential services.
Tenant remediesDepending on the state: rent withholding, repair-and-deduct, code-enforcement complaints, lease termination, or damages. Every remedy has strict procedural steps — written notice first, almost always.
Retaliation protectionMost states prohibit eviction, rent hikes, or service cuts in response to a tenant’s good-faith habitability complaint.
Your document, against your state’s law.
The analyzer reads your actual document clause by clause and cites the governing statute for each finding.
Run the Lease Analyzer — free →
This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.