Salt Lake City Rental Laws: A Landlord’s Guide to Compliance
Owning rental properties in Salt Lake City is a unique and exciting opportunity. Salt Lake City has a strong economy, low crime rate, and reasonable cost of living, making it an attractive place to be a landlord. However, to be successful in this endeavor, it is important to understand the laws that govern rental property.
Salt Lake City has landlord-friendly laws that provide many benefits, but they also set expectations for property owners. Knowing the notice requirements, security deposit requirements, lease requirements, and eviction requirements is important. These laws are in place to protect the rights of both landlords and tenants and provide a process for resolving disputes.
This article provides a general overview of the legal and practical responsibilities of landlords in Salt Lake City. Here you will learn how to protect your property, build a good relationship with your tenants, and understand the Utah landlord-tenant laws.
Legal Responsibilities
As a Salt Lake City landlord, you are required to provide a written lease for every rental agreement. The lease should include your contact information, property details, rental terms, and maintenance requirements. You must also comply with Fair Housing laws, which prohibit you from discriminating against tenants based on race, color, religion, gender, familial status, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or income source. When screening potential tenants, you must use consistent screening processes and keep detailed records of all interactions with tenants and all financial transactions.
Security Deposits and Fees
You can set application fees to cover screening costs, and there is no legal limit on the amount of security deposits you can charge. You can also charge late fees for late rent payments. When a tenant moves out, you must return their security deposit within 30 days, or within 15 days of receiving their forwarding address.
Property Access and Maintenance
Your rental property must meet basic safety requirements, including access to safe drinking water, working electricity, and heating that meets building codes. You must keep the property clean and free of pests, and provide adequate waste disposal. Stairs, floors, and railings must be in good repair, and hot and cold running water must be provided.
For property inspections, you may enter during regular business hours (8 AM – 5 PM on weekdays, 10 AM – 3 PM on weekends), but reasonable notice is required for non-emergency access related to repairs or inspections.
Rent Policies
Salt Lake City has landlord-friendly rent laws, with no rent control or rent increase limits. You can raise the rent-to-market rate between leases, provided you give 15 days’ written notice before any increase. You are also free to set your own grace period for late payments.
Eviction Procedures
Tenants can be evicted for a variety of reasons, including non-payment of rent, lease violations, expiration of rental terms, illegal activity, property damage, or other documented disturbances. For unpaid rent or fees, a 3-day notice is required. If there is no lease or the lease has expired, a 5-day notice must be given. Proper legal filing procedures must be followed, and self-help evictions are prohibited.
Tenant Rights
Tenants can terminate month-to-month leases with 15 days’ notice. They have the right to request repairs for unsafe conditions and expect timely responses to maintenance requests. Unless prohibited by the lease, tenants can keep pets and have the right to know the reasons for any rental application rejections.
Risk Management
Protect your rental business by conducting thorough background checks and documenting the property’s condition. Keep detailed records of maintenance and repairs, follow consistent screening and rental procedures, and respond promptly to repair requests. A good understanding of fair housing laws will help minimize your legal risk.
Required Disclosures
You must inform tenants of any lead-based paint, existing damage, property management details, building code violations, and health or safety hazards. These disclosures are important for protecting your interests and the interests of your tenants.
Salt Lake City has a stable rental market with steady job growth and affordable living costs. With these factors in mind, landlords can find good opportunities. By following these guidelines, you can build successful, long-term relationships with tenants while protecting your investment.
Work with Advanced Solutions Property Management to Fulfill Your Rental Legal Responsibilities
The legal aspects of rental property management can be complex. For many Salt Lake City landlords, working with a professional property manager is a good idea.
Advanced Solutions Property Management (ASPM) was founded in 2011 by Bob Mack. The company has more than 65 years of combined property management experience. ASPM provides a full range of rental management services, including tenant screening and maintenance coordination.
Their approach combines data-driven insights with hands-on experience as property investors. The ASPM team includes certified commercial advisors who are familiar with market trends and the practical challenges of being a landlord. With their in-house maintenance company, Utah Property Maintenance, they can respond quickly to service requests.
ASPM’s management services include:
- Tenant screening, including income, employment, and background checks
- Rent collection and deposit management
- 24/7 maintenance response
- Regular property inspections
- Legal compliance oversight
- Financial reporting and owner payments
- Market analysis for optimal rental pricing
ASPM charges a competitive 8% of collected rent for full-service management, plus a $195 fee for initial lease-up and renewals, with no hidden fees, maintenance markups, or long-term contracts.
Instead of trying to understand Salt Lake City’s rental laws and property management responsibilities on your own, working with an experienced manager like ASPM allows you to focus on property ownership while they handle the day-to-day details. Their systematic approach and local market expertise are designed to protect your investment and maximize your returns.
