Which States Are the Most Safe and Secure for Renters? (Published 2022) (2024)

FAQs

Which state has the strongest tenant rights? ›

While last month's Household Census survey shows renters concerned about evictions, California consistently has the LOWEST eviction rates of the 10 most populous states, with 2.2 pre-COVID eviction filings per 100 rental households as compared to 9 per 100 in New York and 16 per 100 in Michigan.

Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina have some of the fastest and most lenient eviction processes in the country. In Louisiana, the average eviction can be completed in as little as two to five weeks. Landlords only need to give renters a five-day notice before filing an eviction suit.

In 2019, Oregon became the first to pass a statewide rent control law, capping increases at 7 percent a year plus inflation. Later that year, California followed by capping rent increases at 10 percent per year.

Arizona. Arizona is one of the best states to be a landlord. The state has the eleventh lowest property taxes in the United States at just 0.65%. It also has an eviction process that is one of the easiest to navigate: an eviction can be completed in one to six weeks, from start to finish.

New Jersey was the first state to pass a just-cause eviction law in 1974. Interest in these laws has grown in recent years with California passing a just-cause eviction law in 2019 and Oregon passing a bill enumerating valid causes for evicting tenants the same year. Washington passed a similar bill in 2021.

Black renters face a disproportionate share of evictions. Less than one in every five renters in America is Black (18.8%), but over half of all eviction filings are against Black renters (51.1%). This also means that Black renters face far higher risk of eviction than any other group.

The eviction process can take 30 - 45 days, or longer. The time starts from when you have eviction court forms delivered to your tenant to the time they must move out. Choose any box, below, to learn more about the eviction process and get step-by-step instructions.

Why is Illinois not a landlord-friendly state? ›

Illinois is only considered somewhat of a landlord-friendly state. While factors like no rent control or security deposit limitations favor landlords, the state has restrictions that limit what they can do to lease their property. Plus, much of the time have more leverage in a lease agreement than the landlord does.

In this article, we'll give you an overview of the current laws and regulations for 2023. Alabama is generally landlord-friendly, but tenants are protected from discrimination and harassment. We'll cover rental agreements, rights and responsibilities, lease termination, eviction, and more!

Cheapest State for Rent in the US

The least expensive state for rent is West Virginia with an average rent price of $800.

Vermont might have the best laws for renters, but it's also one of the 24 states that don't set a limit for security deposits, so nobody is perfect. Other examples are Georgia, Washington, Texas, Illinois, and New York.

Wichita, KS

With a median rent of just $565 for a studio (comprising only 17.6 percent of median single income), Wichita, Kansas, is the cheapest rental city in America. And the denizens here breathe easier just by living here.

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — According to LawDepot, Texas is often considered a landlord-friendly state because it favors landlords over tenants regarding eviction processes, deposits, and rent increases. Approximately 35 percent of 30 million Texans rent their homes or apartments.

North Carolina is among the top five states for renters, according to a study by ConsumerAffairs. President Joe Biden recently announced a plan to lower housing costs, and the Federal Trade Commission has begun working against rental price-fixing.

Cheapest State for Rent in the US

The least expensive state for rent is West Virginia with an average rent price of $800.

As mentioned, since there's no controlled rent in Arizona, property owners can raise the rent by any amount. Moreover, they can do it for any reason. The state hasn't defined a legal cap for rent increases. However, landlords are somewhat limited as to when they can raise the amount and should give proper notice.