Before you make the big decision to enter into a lease agreement, check out our quick cheat-sheet on North Dakota Landlord Tenant Rights.
Landlord Responsibilities
Landlords have certain responsibilities to their tenants. These include the duty to address, provide, or maintain the following:
- Ventilation
- HVAC
- Dwelling structures
- Electricity
- Plumbing and sanitation
- Water
- Bed bugs (in some cases)
Landlords are prohibited from engaging in retaliatory conduct.
Tenant Responsibilities
Tenants likewise have responsibilities to their tenants. These include:
- Paying rent in a timely manner
- Keep the unit in a clean, safe, and habitable condition
- Perform minor maintenance and small repairs
- Not disturb other tenants or neighbors
Security Deposit
The standard security deposit limit is one month’s rent; however, if the tenant is a felon or has previously violated lease terms the landlord may request two months’ rent. The landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit minus deductions to the tenant or else be held liable for up to three times the original deposit amount.
Rent and Fees
Landlords are free to charge any amount they wish for rent, rent increases, and fees. Before raising the rent, landlords must give the tenant a 30-day notice.
Evictions
Landlords can evict tenants on several grounds including:
- Nonpayment of rent
- Violation of lease terms
- No lease or the lease has expired
- The unit is being sold by the owner
Tenants can legally end their leases early in the following circumstances:
- The unit is uninhabitable
- Active military duty
- Early termination clause in lease
- Landlord harassment
- Domestic violence
Landlords must make a reasonable effort to re-rent the premises; if they fail to do so, the tenant may be held liable for the remainder of the lease term.
Lease Termination Notice
The landlord is required to give the tenant notice before terminating their lease in most cases.
If the landlord is terminating the lease for nonpayment, they must give the tenant a 3-day Notice to Pay before starting eviction proceedings. If the lease has been violated, the landlord can give a 3-day notice.
If the tenant has stayed beyond the lease term or a lease was never made, the landlord must give as much notice as the rental payment period or a 30-day notice, whichever is less. If the owner of the premises wishes to sell the rental property, they must give a 3-day notice.
The tenant may also be required to give the landlord notice before terminating the lease. Week-to-week tenants must give a 7-day notice while month-to-month and year-to-year tenants are required to give a 30-day notice.
Relevant State Agencies
North Dakota Department of Housing and Urban Development
Great Plains Housing Authority
City-Specific Links
Fargo:
Bismarck:
Burleigh County Housing Authority
Grand Forks:
High Plains Fair Housing Center