Wyoming Residential Lease Agreement

Introduction

Key Things to Know

1. 1

   A residential lease agreement is a legally binding contract that sets the terms under which a tenant rents a landlord's residential property: rent, term, security deposit, each party's responsibilities, and how the tenancy ends.

2. 2

   Wyoming sets no statutory cap on a security deposit. The landlord must return the deposit balance, without interest, plus a written itemization (an itemized list of deductions and the reasons for them) of any deductions, within 30 days after the lease ends or 15 days after receiving the tenant's new mailing address, whichever is later; that deadline extends by 30 more days if the unit was damaged (W.S. 1-21-1208).

3. 3

   Two disclosures typically apply: the federal lead-based paint disclosure for housing built before 1978 (42 U.S.C. Section 4852d), and, if any part of the deposit is nonrefundable, a written nonrefundable-deposit notice given at the time the deposit is taken (W.S. 1-21-1207).

4. 4

   Wyoming's Residential Rental Property Act sets no advance-notice period for a landlord to enter the rental unit. The tenant simply may not unreasonably deny the landlord access for repairs, inspection, or showing the unit (W.S. 1-21-1205), so the lease should set its own notice-hours rule.

5. 5

   There is no statutory cap on late fees and no statutory grace period (the extra days a tenant has to pay before a late fee applies) before rent is considered late in Wyoming; both are left to the lease agreement.

6. 6

   Wyoming law sets no statutory notice period for ending a month-to-month tenancy or for raising rent. Whatever notice period the lease itself specifies is what controls.

7. 7

   Wyoming has no statewide rent-control or rent-stabilization law and no just-cause (a required legal reason for eviction) eviction regime.

Wyoming Requirements for Residential Lease Agreement

• No Statutory Security Deposit Cap, But a Strict Return Deadline

  Wyoming sets no statutory maximum on a security deposit amount. The landlord must return the deposit balance, without interest, along with a written itemization of any deductions, within 30 days after the lease terminates or 15 days after receiving the tenant's new mailing address, whichever is later. That deadline extends by 30 more days if the unit was damaged (W.S. Section 1-21-1208).

• Written Notice for Any Nonrefundable Deposit

  If any portion of the security deposit is nonrefundable, the rental agreement must state that fact, and the landlord or the landlord's designated agent must give the tenant written notice of it at the time the deposit is taken (W.S. Section 1-21-1207).

• Federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure

  For rental housing built before 1978, federal law requires the landlord to disclose known lead-based paint hazards and provide the tenant an EPA pamphlet on lead paint, regardless of state (42 U.S.C. Section 4852d).

• No Statutory Entry-Notice Period

  Wyoming's Residential Rental Property Act sets no minimum advance-notice period for a landlord to enter the rental unit. The tenant may not unreasonably deny the landlord access for repairs, inspection, or to show the unit (W.S. Section 1-21-1205), so the lease itself should state the notice hours the parties agree to.

• No Statutory Late-Fee Cap or Grace Period

  Wyoming law contains no provision capping late fees and no statutory grace period before rent is considered late. Late-fee amounts and any grace period are governed entirely by whatever the lease agreement states.

• No Statutory Month-to-Month Termination Notice

  Wyoming sets no statutory notice period for ending a month-to-month or other periodic tenancy. The termination notice period the lease agreement specifies is what governs between the parties.

• No Statutory Rent-Increase Notice

  Wyoming law does not require any advance notice before a landlord raises the rent. Whatever rent-increase notice period the lease agreement states is what applies; tenants and landlords should agree on and write this down.

• Habitability and Maintenance Obligation

  The landlord must maintain the rental unit in a safe and sanitary condition fit for human habitation, with operational electrical, heating and plumbing systems and hot and cold running water, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing (W.S. Sections 1-21-1202 and 1-21-1203).