Utah has many advantages that can entice people to move there. Whether you are looking for a better education, a change of scenery, or greater career opportunities, Utah has a lot to offer its residents.
One remarkable fact about Utah is that in 2024, it is once again recognized as the best state in the country according to the U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings. Not only did the state rank second in education, but it also ranked third in economics and third in infrastructure. In addition to increasing its position in the rankings for the second year running, Utah also improved in several other areas, such as opportunities and crime and corrections.
There is no better time to invest in Utah real estate than now, thanks to the state's many accolades heaped on it during the previous two years. Utah is a good bet for your next property investment if you're looking for a landlord-friendly state with reasonable rental regulations.
For a state to be landlord-friendly, it must have laws, rules, or lower business costs that help investors like you. However, this doesn't mean that tenants are mistreated in this state. It’s just that you are given more power to manage and handle your tenants properly.
In this article, let’s discover what makes Utah one of the more landlord-friendly states in the country.
Robust Opportunity to Earn Income
You have a great opportunity to generate income through your rental homes in Utah since the demand for housing has been consistent for over a decade. Additionally, experts predict that the market will continue to develop, and the low vacancy rates bode well for your return on investment.
Lease Break Protections
One of the reasons why Utah is a landlord-friendly state is because of the security you can get when it comes to rental payments.
In Utah, even if your tenant breaks their lease early, you can still get a rental payment from them because they are still responsible for the rest of the lease. You are, however, legally expected to make an honest attempt to rent the place out again. If you find a new tenant, your original tenant won't be liable anymore for the rest of the rental payments.
Affordable Housing and a Solid Neighborhood
Another thing that makes Utah one of the landlord-friendly states is its affordable living options compared to other states that offer similar opportunities and services. Also, its cost of living is reasonable for a real estate market that is constantly changing. Tenants can easily find a perfect rental home that fits their tastes, which reduces the vacancy rates in your rental properties.
Efficiency of the Eviction Process
The simple process of evicting tenants is a critical factor in landlord-friendly states. There are several reasons you can evict your tenants in Utah:
Scatter Waste
You can give your tenants a 3-day notice to quit if they scatter waste on your rental property. Meanwhile, you can start the eviction process if the renter stays on the property after the warning time is over.
End of Lease
You can give your tenants a notice to leave if they stay on your rental property after their lease ends. Their type of lease will determine how long the notice must be given. For a month-to-month lease, you need to provide them with the notice at least 15 calendar days before the end of their rental period. On the other hand, for at-will tenants, you must give them a 5-day notice to quit. Take note that at-will tenants mean that no written or verbal rental agreement exists between you and your tenant.
Illegal Acts
When your tenant commits an illegal act, you can give them a 3-day notice to quit before the eviction process.
Lease Violation
If a tenant breaks the rules in your leasing agreement, you can give them a 3-day notice to comply. After that, they have three days to fix the problem. You can start the eviction process if the problem is still not fixed.
Nonpayment of Rent
One critical trait of landlord-friendly states is a smooth process when your tenant can’t pay the rent. You can give your tenant a 3-day notice to pay. Afterward, you can start eviction if the tenant still doesn't pay.
Subleasing Your Rental Unit
Depending on your lease agreement, you can start an eviction process after giving them a 3-day notice to quit when a tenant illegally subleases your rental unit.
Notice Needed for Month-to-Month Lease Termination
The good thing about landlord-friendly states is their notice of lease termination. Tenants in Utah need to give a 15-day notice for lease termination. This will give you enough time to find a new tenant for your rental unit, avoiding the number of vacancies in your rental properties.
No Grace Period for Charging Late Fees, and Efficient Rent Collection
Utah is a landlord-friendly state because there is no specific law governing which payment method a landlord can use. In addition, landlords are not required to give receipts for their tenants’ rental payments.
Meanwhile, when your tenants don’t pay their rental fees on time, you don't have to give them extra time to pay before you charge a late fee.
No Statewide Rent Control Law
Utah's lack of rent control makes it one of the landlord-friendly states. This means there is no limit on the increase in rental fees, which will help you maximize your profit from your Utah rental properties.
Rent increases are also allowed as often as you want, as long as you give enough notice. However, you can only increase rent on a month-to-month basis and must give written notice to your tenants 30 days in advance.
Right to Entry in Your Rental Property
In Utah, you can enter your rental property for legally needed repairs, inspections, and other tasks related to your rental agreement or business. However, if you want to enter the rental you must give at least 24 hours notice unless it's an emergency.
No Cap for Maximum and Interest Requirement in Security Deposits
Another advantage for landlords is Utah having no limit on the amount of the security deposit you can get. You also have a 30-day limit before returning the security deposit to your tenants. Make sure to inform your potential tenants about this during the application process to avoid future misunderstandings.
Maximize Your Utah Property Income with Professional Property Management
When you have a rental property business in a landlord-friendly state, you can take advantage of the perks that will make running your rental property simple while bringing in an attractive profit.
Landlords like you can benefit from favorable laws and legislation, lower vacancy rates, and greater rental yields. You also have the best chance to boost your income and maximize your return on investments.
If you’re looking for creative ways to do this, Wolfnest Property Management is always here to help. We offer various services for Utah landlords and devise creative strategies to maximize the benefits of these landlord-friendly states.
Contact us now and discover how we can help you get the most out of your rental property in Utah!
