Safe and secure housing that meets your needs is important for every aspect of your life. Following the advice on this page will help protect you and will help you stay in your housing. We will cover important things to remember about landlords and roommates.

We based this information on Utah housing law. Other state housing laws may be different. If you need legal advice, please reach out to an attorney. If you have a very low income, you may qualify for free or low-cost legal aid from the Utah Legal Services.

Working with Landlords

Landlords decide your housing as a renter. We have listed some helpful tips for tenants to remember. These will help you work with your landlord and the landlord’s staff.

Always Pay Your Rent First

Losing your housing can make it very difficult to keep stability in other areas of your life. Try to pay your rent first. Don’t take any chances with your housing! Remember that you cannot withhold (not pay) your rent from your landlord. Pay even if your landlord doesn’t make repairs. Landlords may evict you and charge extra costs if you withold your rent.

Don’t Pay in Cash

Try to pay your rent in ways that you can document. This can include a check or money order. If you pay in cash, ask your landlord for a signed receipt of payment in writing. This is their written confirmation they received your payment.

Don’t Sign Anything You Don’t Understand

Ask questions if you don’t understand something before you sign. Ask for the landlord to give you documents in a language you understand. You cannot undo a signature, so be careful what you sign.

Follow the Terms of Your Lease

Both you and your landlord must follow what’s in your lease. You should read the lease contract carefully before you sign. Make sure you know what’s in your lease. The landlord can enforce all terms written in the contract if they don’t break any state or city laws. The only way to change an active lease is if both you and your landlord agree. The lease may also include language allowing the landlord to make ongoing changes. Leases usually don’t automatically renew unless the contract says so.

Keep Your Unit in Good Condition

Sometimes there are problems or things break with our housing. You should keep your unit in good condition to avoid conflicts with your landlord. Your lease will outline responsibilities for repairs. Notify your landlord immediately of any dangerous conditions in your housing. For less urgent repairs, give them notice through their standard repair system. This might be a work order system, an in-person report, a text message, an email, or a telephone call. Tell them what needs fixing, a timeline, and permission to enter your unit. You may want to connect with an attorney at Utah Legal Services before you send a notice. They will help you understand what is best for your situation and potential remedies.

• You can use this Request for Repair form (PDF | 87 KB)

Document Everything

If you ever have a problem with your landlord, you will want proof. Make sure you keep physical documentation of all communications with your landlord. This will help support your case if a landlord is breaking laws. We recommend you document:

• Proof of payments (receipts, mailing stubs, your bank statements, etc.).
• Copies of your lease.
• Payment or other agreements.
• Repair requests.
• Move out or other notices.
• Emails or text messages.
• Photos or videos of your unit condition when moving in or out.
  

When documenting, collect as much detail as possible. Include dates of communications and signature. Request signatures from your landlord when sending or receiving information. If you meet with them in person, ask for a written, dated, and signed note confirming what happened when you met. Paying for Certified Mail with Return Receipts can also help you document. Certified mail requires signatures from the recipient and sends you proof of delivery.

Avoid Eviction

Following your lease and making your payments will help you avoid eviction. If your landlord threatens to evict you, don’t panic. They cannot evict you without a notice and a court order. Verbal notices are not legal. If you receive a notice, work with your landlord or their staff to find a solution. Talk to a lawyer or find mediation services to help you work with your landlord. You can also learn more about evictions on our Moving Out page.

Roommates

Having a roommate can make your renting more affordable and fun. It can also be challenging. The information below can help you deal with issues that may come up with roommates.

Paying Rent with a Roommate

If one roommate pays and the other does not pay or moves out, the landlord will expect the rest of the rent. If your name is on the lease, you may be responsible for getting the total rent to the landlord. This may mean you will pay more than your share of rent. If the landlord does not get all their money, then they can take action against you. This can mean ending the lease, evicting, lockout, or property seizure. Exceptions may be if you and your roommate signed separate leases with your landlord.

If you need to find a new roommate to help with expenses, the landlord will usually need to approve them. You may also need to sign a new lease or a lease addendum.

Managing Disputes with a Roommate

Landlords usually do not get involved with roommate disputes. The police will also consider a roommate dispute a “civil matter” and not get involved. The exceptions would be if there are threats of violence.

If you have problems with a roommate, you can do the following:

• Negotiate as much as possible. Put any agreements you make in writing.
• See if your landlord will let you out of the lease. You should not move out without your landlord doing so. If you do, you may be liable for costs related to breaking your lease. This can also impact your credit score. You would also still be liable for damage repairs to the unit beyond normal wear and tear.
• Try to find someone to take your place on the lease. If you do this, make sure your old roommate and your landlord consent and take your name off the lease. You can learn more about moving out on our Moving Out page.
• Try to find another roommate to replace them. Make sure you get written approval from your landlord.

The best plan is to set expectations in the beginning. Make sure that you and your roommate are compatible living partners before you move in. You can learn more at our Before You Move In page.