Utah’s rent increase laws in 2024 provide landlords with significant flexibility while offering some protections for tenants. Here’s what tenants in Utah should know:
No Rent Control
Utah does not have rent control laws, meaning there is no legal limit on how much landlords can raise rent. Landlords are free to set rent at market rates, as long as they comply with lease agreements and local laws regarding notification periods.
Notice Requirements
Landlords must provide written notice before increasing rent. For month-to-month tenancies, the minimum notice period is 15 days before the rent increase takes effect. However, some lease agreements may require longer notice periods, such as 30 or 60 days.
Lease Agreements
For fixed-term leases, rent cannot be increased during the lease period unless explicitly allowed by the agreement. Landlords must wait until the lease ends to raise rent, unless otherwise specified in the contract.
Discrimination and Retaliation Protections
While landlords have broad authority to increase rent, they cannot do so for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons. Rent increases based on a tenant’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability are illegal under the Federal Fair Housing Act.
Recent Legislative Efforts
In 2024, there have been attempts to provide more protection for tenants:
- Rep. Marsha Judkins introduced HB355, which would require landlords to give tenants 60 days’ notice for rent increases.
- Rep. Tyler Clancy has expressed interest in working on future bills to give tenants more advance notice about rent increases.
Market Trends
Utah has experienced significant rent increases in recent years:
- Median rents in Utah increased by 4.3% between March 2023 and March 2024.
- The Salt Lake City metro area saw a 4.5% increase in median rent during the same period.
- As of 2024, the median rent for all homes in Utah is $1,895.
Tenant Options
If faced with a rent increase, tenants can:
- Negotiate with the landlord
- Pay the increased amount
- Choose not to renew the lease and find alternative housing
Tenants should carefully review their lease agreements and be aware of their rights under Utah law. If they believe a rent increase is discriminatory or retaliatory, they may want to seek legal advice.
Sources:
- https://ksltv.com/619065/compromise-bill-giving-utah-tenants-more-notice-of-rent-increases-moves-forward/
- https://www.steadily.com/blog/how-much-can-a-landlord-raise-rent-in-utah
- https://www.steadily.com/blog/rent-increase-laws-regulations-utah
- https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2024-08-29/what-can-utah-renters-do-if-their-landlord-raises-their-rent
- https://www.utahlegalservices.org/node/24/rent-increase-or-decrease