Lawmakers at the federal, state, and local levels have been busy for a long, long time passing law after law to help keep society running smoothly and peacefully, and they have not neglected landlording.

There are laws at the state level which govern tenancies at every stage, from the creation of the tenancy through the duration, termination, and aftermath. State laws tell you what your rights and responsibilities as a rental property owner are and what your tenants rights and responsibilities are. They outline the proper procedures for evictions. They expand the federal anti-discrimination standards. They go into contracts, deposits, notices, employer/employee relationships, liens, vehicle towing, maintenance, subletting, abandonment, bad checks, retaliation, health, safety. In short, state laws cover almost every conceivable aspect of landlording.

Most every county courthouse has a law library. You can also call your public library and ask if they have copies of federal and state laws that lawyers and judges use. You can also contact your local housing agency, they have to follow the same laws governing rental housing.