Rating

Landlord-Friendly Laws

Scale56-100

Graded like school, from F (56) to A+ (100). Higher is better.

About This Ranking

Goal

Highlight states whose laws let rental owners evict for nonpayment sooner, bar local rent caps, do not require a listed cause to end a tenancy, and allow larger deposits. This is state law, not legal advice.

Sources

Data behind the rating

3 sources

Eviction Research Network state eviction timeframes

Verified July 2026

Data: The fastest lawful path from a missed rent payment to a lockout in each state: grace days, notice, court, and removal, each from the state's statutes.
What it tells us: Gives the legal minimum, not how long evictions usually take; court backlogs often add weeks or months.

Local Solutions Support Center housing preemption map, with state rent cap laws

State law as of September 2026

Data: Which states bar cities from capping rents, plus the statewide caps in California, Oregon, and Washington and local rent control in effect elsewhere.
What it tells us: Describes what state law allows or requires; a particular city's own ordinance can be stricter where the state permits it.

State landlord-tenant statutes: just-cause eviction and security deposits

State law as of September 2026

Data: Statewide requirements to give a listed cause for ending a tenancy, and the most a landlord may collect as a security deposit.
What it tells us: Summarizes state rules for typical rentals; exemptions for small or owner-occupied buildings vary by state.

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