A leak pours into a bin and a bucket, on top of a wet hardwood floor. A couple sits on a couch in the background.

Explainers Housing

What Makes a Habitable Rental Home?

Almost every state in the U.S. requires that landlords maintain safe and livable residential units. This is often called a "warranty of habitability." In some places, there are laws that specify exactly what those requirements are; in others, the standards are less defined.

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This article is part of the Under the Lens series

Fit to Live In: Fixing Our Housing Stock

Housing problems like mildew, lead, unheated homes, and more plague low-income homeowners and renters alike—and many of these issues are only growing with time. What laws have housing advocates pushed to change things? How are local governments converting aging public housing units to make them livable again? Over the next several weeks, we'll delve into these questions and more.
Shelterforce · What Makes a Habitable Rental Home?
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About the Author

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Lara Heard

Lara Heard is Shelterforce's associate editor.

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Fit to Live In: Fixing Our Housing Stock