Utah Room Rental Agreement
If you’re interested in a lucrative side hustle, a way to use an empty room, or an opportunity to “house hack” and pay off a mortgage with rental income, a Utah room rental agreement can help you ensure that all necessary aspects of the rental lease are covered.
Here at TurboTenant, we’ve put together a guide to room rental agreements in Utah. We’ll cover mandatory disclosures, the different types of room rental agreements, security deposit rules, and more.
Utah Room Rental Laws
Like more traditional rental arrangements, specific state and federal regulations govern Utah room rental agreements. Landlords in the Beehive State must be thoroughly up to date on all the necessary details of Utah landlord-tenant law, including the following:
- Mandatory landlord disclosures
- Notice to terminate the rental agreement
- Rent increase regulations
- Eviction processes
- Security deposit regulations
- Pet deposits and rent
- Late rent fees
Types of Room Rental Agreements
Landlords can choose from a few different residential lease options when putting together a Utah room rental agreement form. Doing so will depend on several factors, such as the preferred length of the tenancy, whether the landlord prefers stability or flexibility, and the kind of relationship they want to have with tenants.
Verbal agreement: Verbal rental agreements are simple, informal agreements frequently used for room rentals. Since verbal agreements are not legally backed by writing, they can be difficult to enforce. We do not recommend them.
Fixed-term lease: A fixed-term lease is a written contract that expires on a specific date and must then be renewed or terminated. These contracts provide more stability but less flexibility for both parties.
Month-to-month lease: A month-to-month lease, also known as a “tenancy-at-will,” automatically renews at the end of every month until either the tenant or landlord decides to terminate the agreement.
Utah Lease Agreement
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Utah Month-to-Month Lease Agreement
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Required Landlord Disclosures (4)
When creating a legally binding room rental agreement in Utah, landlords must make these four mandatory disclosures to their tenants:
- Lead-based paint: Federal law requires landlords across the U.S. to disclose the known presence of lead-based paint and associated hazards in all dwelling units built before 1978 (Section 1018 of Title X).
- Methamphetamine contamination: Landlords in Utah must inform tenants if the dwelling unit has been contaminated by the use, production, or storage of methamphetamine. Additionally, landlords must report to an appropriate government agency for decontamination (UC § 57-27-201).
- Move-in checklist: Before a tenant moves into a home, the landlord must provide a written inventory detailing the property’s condition. The tenant is also entitled to a walk-through to document any further issues (UC § 57-22-4(6)(a))
- Landlord’s name and address: Rental agreements in Utah must include the name, address, and contact information of either the landlord or an authorized property manager (UC § 57-22-4(7)(a)).
TurboTenant includes these disclosures with each lease agreement, making it easy to provide the information tenants need when signing their leases.
Security Deposits
Maximum security deposit: Utah law does not limit the amount that landlords may charge for a security deposit.
Security deposit receipt: Landlords in Utah are not required to provide a receipt for security deposits to tenants.
Deduction tracking: Landlords may make deductions from the security deposit to cover unpaid rent, cleaning expenses, financial losses caused by lease violations, and/or any damages that exceed normal wear and tear. Landlords must track all expenses thoroughly and issue the tenant an itemized statement explaining the reason and amount of the deduction (UC § 57-17-3).
Security deposit return: Landlords in Utah are required to return the security deposit, along with an itemized statement explaining any deductions, within 30 days of the tenant moving out (Utah Code § 57-17-3).
Pet deposits: Utah landlord-tenant law does not specify whether or not landlords can charge pet deposits.
Rent Payment Regulations
Late rent fees: Landlords can charge a late rent fee of up to $75 or 10% of the rent payment, provided they clearly explain any late rent fees in the lease (UC § 57-22-4).
Right to withhold rent: If the landlord fails to provide safe, habitable housing as required by Utah law, the tenant must first request that the landlord complete the necessary repairs. If the landlord doesn’t take action within three days, the tenant may withhold up to two months of rent to restore the property to a safe and habitable condition (UC § 57-22-6).
Grace period: Utah law does not provide a grace period for late rent.
Pet rent: No law in Utah prohibits landlords from charging pet rent fees.
Rent Payment Increase Rules
Rent payment increase frequency: In Utah, landlords may increase rent at the end of a rental agreement as often as necessary. They may not increase rent during a lease term.
Rent payment increase maximum: Landlords may raise rent by any amount deemed necessary, provided that they give tenants at least 15 days’ written notice.
Rent control/stabilization: Neither rent control nor rent stabilization laws exist in Utah.
Room Rental Agreement Breaches
Failure to pay: If the tenant fails to pay rent on time, the landlord may issue a 3-day Notice to Pay or Quit (UC § 78B-6-802(1)(c)).
Lease violations: If the tenant violates other lease terms, the landlord may issue a 3-day Notice to Cure or Quit (UC § 78B-6-802(h)). However, if the tenant engages in illegal activity on the property, the landlord may issue an unconditional 3-day Notice to Vacate (UC § 78B-6-802(d-g)).
Lease abandonment: If the tenant abandons the lease without a valid reason, they must continue to pay rent for the duration of the original lease term or until the landlord secures a new tenant to fill the vacant unit. Landlords must make good faith efforts to find a new tenant (UC § 78B-6-816).
Self-help evictions, such as utility shut-offs or lockouts, are illegal in Utah.
Ending a Room Rental Agreement
Landlords and tenants must follow specific procedures to end a room rental agreement in Utah. Both parties must give appropriate notice, which varies depending on the type of room rental agreement used. Fixed-term room rental agreements can only be terminated with cause, whereas month-to-month agreements offer more flexibility.
Month-to-month: To terminate a Utah month-to-month room rental agreement, the landlord must provide at least 15 days’ notice (UC § 78B-6-802). Tenants are not required to give notice.
Fixed-term: In Utah, the landlord or tenant must have a valid reason to terminate a fixed-term room rental agreement. Landlords must give appropriate notice, which varies depending on the circumstances leading to the termination.
Room abandonment: Should the tenant abandon the room, they are generally responsible for paying rent for the remainder of the lease term or until the landlord secures a new tenant (UC § 78B-6-816).
Tenant’s right to terminate: Tenants in Utah have the right to terminate a lease early in certain circumstances, including landlord harassment (UC § 57-22-4), landlord failure to provide safe and habitable housing (UC § 57-22-6), if the tenant is a victim of domestic violence (UC § 57-22-5.1), or if the tenant is starting active-duty military service (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act).
Landlord Room Access Laws
Immediate access: Landlords may enter the unit immediately in the case of an emergency or lease abandonment.
Landlord harassment: If the landlord repeatedly enters the dwelling unit without providing the required advance notice, this could constitute landlord harassment and allow the tenant to break the lease without penalty (UC § 57-22-4).
Advance notice: Landlords must notify tenants at least 24 hours before entering the dwelling unit (UC § 57-22-4(2)).
Agreement Renewal/Termination
Required renewals: Utah has no laws requiring landlords or tenants to renew their rental agreements.
Required notice: If the landlord does not wish to renew the lease, they must give the tenant a 15-day notice.
Month-to-month considerations: In Utah, month-to-month room rental agreements have the same required notice period for nonrenewal as fixed-term leases.
Room Rental Agreement Utah FAQs
What to include in a Utah room rental agreement?
Utah room rental agreements should include information such as the lease duration, rental agreement terms, and all required disclosures, including both parties’ names and contact information.
How do I legally rent out a room?
To legally rent out a room, property owners should create a Utah room rental agreement that is signed and dated by both parties.
How to make a Utah room rental agreement?
You can draft a Utah room rental agreement using TurboTenant’s printable PDF template. Alternatively, you can work with a rental lawyer to create a rental contract for your room.
