The business of being a landlord is the same wherever you go: Offer a decent rental at a reasonable price, with money left over after expenses, and you’ll make money. Where you live, however, can vastly change that equation. The way different states treat landlords, tenants, rentals and their contracts are so different, and has a huge impact on your business.

While we’re not a substitute for a good, trusted, local real estate attorney, we’ve condensed the laws of all 50 states, to focus on the most important issues. Additionally, we’ve provided links to all of the relevant State and County code issues, along with links to local trusted attorneys and real estate agents.