Landlord and tenant disputes typically are governed by state property and contracts law. A lease or a rental agreement defines the length of the rental term, the price paid, penalties for late payments, and the amount of notice required before either the landlord or the tenant can cancel the lease. The landlord has a duty to maintain its property in a reasonably safe condition in view of all the circumstances. Additionally, state or local law sets the requirements for evicting a tenant, which may occur for only a limited number of reasons before the tenancy expires.
