A residential lease agreement in Oklahoma City is a binding document between a landlord and a tenant. This agreement outlines the terms and conditions surrounding the use of a rental property in exchange for periodic payments.
Residential Lease Agreement Requirements in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City has no city-specific residential lease agreement requirements or disclosures. As such, landlords and tenants in Oklahoma City follow the State’s requirements for lease agreements.
Landlord-Tenant Rights and Regulations in Oklahoma City
When it comes to landlord-tenant rights in Oklahoma City, landlords should be aware of the following:
Age Discrimination
Oklahoma law prohibits housing discrimination based solely on a person’s age. This law applies to tenants who are 18 and over.
Landlord Retaliation
Oklahoma is one of the only states where landlord retaliation is legal. In general, landlords can retaliate against tenants who take actions like reporting health and safety violations to government authorities. This can happen even if tenants have proof of retaliatory motives from their landlord.
Examples of landlord retaliation include (but are not limited to):
- Raising the rent
- Eviction
- Removing access to amenities
- Refusing to provide services
- Changing the terms of the lease agreement
Optional Lease Agreement Disclosures and Addendums in Oklahoma City
While not mandatory, landlords can add specific disclosures and addendums to their leases. This helps outline the responsibilities of the tenant and can prevent future liability issues.
Medical Marijuana Use Disclosure
Medical marijuana use is legal in Oklahoma City—which is why landlords may want to disclose if they will allow it on the property. Oklahoma law allows landlords to restrict marijuana usage to non-smoking methods only. Landlords should also clarify any designated smoking areas on the premises.
Crime-Free Disclosure
With a crime rate of 43 per 1,000 residents, Oklahoma City landlords may want to include a crime-free addendum in their lease agreement. This should state that engaging in criminal activity, including drug-related activity, is prohibited on or near the property.
Summary of Required Lease Disclosures for the State of Oklahoma
- Landlord’s Name and Address – This creates a line of communication between a landlord and a tenant. Landlords or any authorized individual should provide contact information within or alongside the lease.
- Flooding – Landlords must disclose if a dwelling unit has flooded within the past five years due to an overflow of a lake, stream, river, creek, or other inland water.
- Methamphetamine Contamination – Any knowledge of methamphetamine manufacturing in the rental property must be disclosed in the rental agreement. If the contamination levels are below 0.1 mcg per 100 square centimeters of surface materials, no disclosure is needed.
- Lead-Based Paint – It is a federal law in the United States that any home built prior to 1978 must disclose the risks posed by lead-based paints.
Sources
- 1 Oklahoma City Municipal Code Sec. 25-39
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No person, real estate broker, salesman or agent shall…refuse to sell, lease, rent, assign or otherwise transfer the title or other interest in any housing, or real property….to any person or discriminate in the terms or conditions of the sale, rental or leasing of any residential housing…because of age…
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