Which States are the Most Renter, or Landlord, Friendly? (2024)

FAQs

Which state is most landlord friendly? ›

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.

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.

So, how could it possibly still be considered landlord-friendly? Despite high property taxes, Texas' laws favor a landlord's rights when it comes to security deposits and eviction notices, making it a landlord-friendly state. In addition, Texas does not have a state-wide requirement for landlords to obtain a license.

Alabama. Alabama is known for its low cost of living and affordable real estate markets, which makes it one of the most landlord friendly states today. Property taxes average just $850 per year, the second lowest average in the country.

South Carolina experienced the highest eviction rate of any state between 2014 and 2016, at a rate of 6.2 percent and with an average of 26,430 evictions per year. 22 Twenty of South Carolina's 46 counties see rates of evictions greater than 5 percent, about twice the national average.

The states with the lowest eviction rates were New Mexico, Virginia and Hawaii, according to the study. For its analysis of laws benefiting renters, ConsumerAffairs used 2018 research from Rentcafe that looked at 10 common aspects of the landlord-tenant relationship by state and the laws that defined it.

Arkansas. Arkansas tops the list because not only are there are no real rent control policies in Arkansas, but Arkansas is the only state where tenants can receive criminal charges for failing to vacate after an eviction notice, according to Nolo.com.

Why is Texas so landlord-friendly? ›

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.

Is Florida considered a landlord-friendly state? Florida is widely recognized as a landlord-friendly state. The reasons for this designation include minimal regulations on rent control, late fees, and security deposit amounts, granting landlords the freedom to set rental rates and terms within legal bounds.

Yes, Tennessee is landlord-friendly. Some reasons include the lack of rent control, quick eviction process, and lack of limits on security deposits.

Like many states, in most cases, Texas law doesn't allow landlords to enter a tenant's residence without warning the resident before they enter. Tenants have specific rights to the quiet enjoyment of their home, which means the times you're able to enter the property are limited.

Texas prohibits it, unless there is a housing emergency caused by a disaster. Texas government code defines "disaster" as a flood, hurricane, drought, or epidemic, to list a few. In either of these cases, a city government would have to seek approval of the governor to enact the rent control desired.

When looking at rental income, tax benefits and accumulated home equity (thanks to rapid home value appreciation), landlords in San Jose, California, make the most money: $8,927 per month, or $107,122 per year.