Idaho’s landlord-tenant laws favor flexibility for property owners while mandating basic habitability and fair processes, making it a landlord-friendly state with no caps on rent, late fees, or security deposits.
Tenant Rights
Tenants are entitled to safe, habitable housing with working utilities, plumbing, heating, and no hazards, enforced via the implied warranty of habitability under Idaho Code § 6-320. Landlords must provide reasonable notice (typically 24 hours, or less for emergencies) before entry and cannot retaliate against tenants for reporting violations or joining tenant groups. Security deposits must be returned within 21 days (no later than 30) post-move-out, with itemized deductions if withheld.
Landlord Responsibilities
Owners must maintain structural integrity, handle major repairs promptly, and comply with federal fair housing laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, disability, or other protected classes. Leases should be written for clarity, detailing rent due dates and terms; oral month-to-month agreements are valid but risk disputes. Landlords screen tenants legally but cannot charge excessive fees beyond actual costs.
Eviction Process
Nonpayment triggers a 3-day pay-or-vacate notice; lease violations get a 3-day cure-or-quit notice, with immediate termination allowed for drugs or severe damage. Court eviction (unlawful detainer) follows if unresolved, typically 10-20 days total; self-help evictions like lockouts are illegal. Month-to-month tenancies require one full rental period’s notice to end.
