A Utah rental agreement is a legal contract between a landlord overseeing a rental property and a tenant who wishes to use it. Utah landlord-tenant law governs and regulates these agreements.
Utah Rental Agreement Types
16
pages
14
pages
4
pages
7
pages
9
pages
8
pages
Common Residential Rental Agreements in Utah
- Utah Association of REALTORS® Lease Agreement With Option for Purchase – This form is for use by members of the Utah Association of REALTORS® only. It is in common use in Utah for purchase-optioned residential rentals. This template outlines both leasing terms (landlord disclosures, lease payments, late charges, etc.) and purchasing terms (purchase price, fee obligations, notice of intent, etc.).
Utah Required Residential Lease Disclosures
- Landlord’s Name and Address (required for all leases) – Utah requires that landlords provide their contact information or that of an authorized agent. This ensures reliable communication in situations requiring legal notice.
- New Tenant Disclosure (required for all leases) – Utah landlords must provide a disclosure which includes tenant eligibility criteria, information about all rent and fixed fees, and a move-in checklist that inventories the current condition of the rental property.
- Methamphetamine Contamination Disclosure (required for some leases) – Utah landlords renting properties with any potential methamphetamine contamination must disclose this fact and provide information about active remediation efforts. A contaminated unit can’t be rented without remediation.
- Lead-Based Paint Disclosure (required for some leases) – For any property built before 1978, federal law requires that a Utah residential lease must contain a lead-based paint disclosure with an EPA informational pamphlet, plus notice of any lead hazards on the property.
To learn more about required disclosures in Utah, click here.
Utah Landlord Tenant Laws
- Warranty of Habitability – Utah landlords may only rent out property that is habitable, which means it provides basic health and safety features like heat, plumbing, and electricity. If there are any issues with the property, the landlord must make repairs within 1-10 days, depending on the type and severity of issue. Failure to repair lets the tenant end the rental agreement (called “rent abatement” in Utah), or repair and deduct, depending on specifics in the written notice. Tenants can also recover their attorney fees.
- Evictions – Utah landlords may evict tenants for reasons including rent default, lease violations, or illegal acts. Landlords must provide notice to pay or quit, depending on the type of eviction. Most Utah evictions take 1-4 months.
- Security Deposits – Utah does not place a maximum cap on the amount of a security deposit. Any unused portion of a security deposit must be returned to the tenant within 30 days.
- Lease Termination – Utah tenants can break a month-to-month lease with 15 days of advance notice. A fixed-term lease can’t be terminated early without active military duty, landlord harassment, uninhabitable property, or domestic abuse.
- Rent Increases and Fees – Utah has no maximum cap for a rent increase, or any advance notice requirement before an increase. Most fees likewise have no statewide cap, although returned check fees are $20 if paid within 15 days of mailed notice (otherwise, $55).
- Landlord Entry – Utah landlords may enter rental property for purposes reasonably related to the rental, like repairs and inspections. They must provide at least 24 hours of advance notice before entry, unless there’s an emergency.
- Settling Legal Disputes – Utah allows landlord-tenant disputes in small claims court when the amount in controversy is under $10,000. Small claims is mostly limited to monetary issues, so eviction must be filed in regular courts.
To learn more about landlord tenant laws in Utah, click here.
Sources
- 1 Utah Code § 7-15-1(2)(b) & (4)(2)(b)
-
If an issuer of a check is liable under Subsection (2)(a), the issuer is liable for:(i) the check amount; and(ii) a service charge of $20.
…
(4) If the issuer does not pay the amount owed under Subsection (2)(b) within 15 calendar days from the day on which the notice required under Subsection (5) is mailed, the issuer is liable for:
(a) the amount owed under Subsection (2)(b); and
(b) collection costs not to exceed $35.
Source Link
