This guide provides advice for renters in a foreclosure situation.

This brochure details advice for renters of manufactured homes in Idaho and is available in English and Spanish.

Aunque haya un contrato por escrito o no, si hay un contrato entre el inquilino y el dueño. Si hay un contrato por escrito, el contrato gobernara como el dueño y el inquilino deberán actuar durante la tenencia, a menos que el contrato sea contrario a la ley o política publica. Si el dueño o el inquilino tienen preguntas sobre sus derechos o sus deberes, ellos deberían primero ver el contrato de arrendamiento para la respuesta, entonces ponerse en contacto con un abogado si tienen preguntas...

This guide was created by Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. to explain housing rights and protections a domestic violence survivor has under federal and state law.

For more information, please see the guide below. 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a press release on February 11, 2021 that they will begin enforcing the Fair Housing Act to include protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. 

HUD will also begin to review all claims of discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation received since Jan. 20, 2020.

To read HUD's press release for more information, please click here: HUD Press Release on the Fair Housing Act and Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination.

Persons who believe they have experienced housing discrimination may file a complaint by contacting HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (TTY/Relay). Housing discrimination complaints may also be submitted online at hud.gov/fairhousing.

This Landlord Tenant Manual was created by the Idaho Attorney General's Office and describes both landlord and tenant's rights and responsibilities in areas such as moving in, lease agreements, privacy, repairs and damages, utilities, mold, rent, changing the lease agreement, moving out, the Manufactured Home Residency Act, and storage units. This manual also includes citations to relevant law in these areas.

You may download the manual below or here is a link to the English and Spanish versions of this guide: https://www.ag.idaho.gov/consumer-protection/consumer-manuals/.

In Idaho, investor-owned utilities providing basic services such as electricity, gas, water and telecommunications services must follow rules that protect consumers. The rules are established and enforced by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC). The IPUC is a state agency charged with regulating investor-owned utilities. (City-owned or cooperative utilities are not regulated by the IPUC). The rules say when a utility can and cannot disconnect service to a customer. They also require utilities to inform customers before service is actually shut off, so that payment plans can be attempted and disconnection avoided.

This fact sheet answers common questions about your rights and responsibilities as a customer of a regulated gas, electric, or water utility. Please click here to view the factsheet: Utility Disconnection Factsheet.pdf.

Temporary Reduction in Rent Agreement. Idaho Legal Aid has prepared a customizable template agreement to assist tenants and landlords who have agreed to a temporary reduction in rent due to the pandemic. The form is not interactive, but can be downloaded as a PDF or Word document. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to find these forms.

Please visit the Court Assistance Office (CAO) website for landlord-tenant self-help forms.

Please read over the list below to make sure you qualify to use the interactive forms:

Tenants

• You are a tenant living in Idaho.
• You are representing yourself (if the issue goes to court).
• You know the landlord is not protected by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003.

Landlords

• You are the property owner and your property is in Idaho.
• The property is less than 5 acres.
• You are representing yourself (if the issue goes to court).
• You know the tenant(s) are not protected by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003.
• You are evicting tenant(s) for non-payment of rent.
• You are not trying to remove a mobile home from a rented space.

If any of the statements above are false, check with your local Court Assistance Office for more information about how to proceed.

Interactive Forms for Tenants and Landlords

Interactive forms are free to low income people in Idaho with certain legal issues. Interactive forms allow a person to input information which automatically enters into the appropriate forms. Interactive forms are available on the Idaho Guide & File website.  Click "Start Your Legal Process" to to generate forms you can use to e-file or print to file in person at your local courthouse.

Fillable PDF Forms

Fillable PDF forms are also available if you prefer not use to the interactive forms process. You may find fillable PDF forms and instructions here: https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/. Please click on the "Forms" tab in the top-right corner and then select the type of issue you are having and it will bring you to the appropriate forms for that issue. Don't forget to view the instructions for each form before filing out the forms.

This brochure was prepared by Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. for the purpose of informing landlords and tenants of their rights and responsibilities. It attempts to summarize current Idaho law and to provide general legal information. For specific legal advice, please seek advice from an attorney. To see if you qualify for legal advice from Idaho Legal Aid Services, please click "Apply for Help" above. 

UPDATE: There has been an update in Idaho Code Section 55-307 which now specifically requires landlords to provide 30 days' written notice to a tenant of any increases in rent. For more information, please read Idaho Code Section 55-307: https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title55/t55ch3/sect55-307/.

[This webpage was last updated on: 8/19/2020.]

The National Housing Law Project has created a Know Your Rights Brochure on the Violence Against Women Act and its protections related to federally assisted housing for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. 

Please view the brochure here for further information: https://nhlp.org/files/VAWA-2013-Packet.pdf. 

Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. has created a "Normal Wear and Tear" Guide for tenants who want to understand their rights and obligations related to caring for the rental unit and "normal wear and tear" under Idaho law and security deposit and damages issues.

This document details your rights as a tenant of a foreclosure property.

This YouTube video by Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. explains a tenant's right to a jury trial in Idaho evictions where a question of fact is in dispute (where the parties disagree on some fact materially related to the case). 

Attached below please find forms and information that may be helpful to you in your eviction case related to requesting a jury trial.

For more information, please visit Idaho's 211 Website: https://211.idaho.gov/ or Idaho Housing's Website: https://www.idahohousing.com/covid-19/.

This pamphlet is a brief summary of the rules adopted by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) concerning electric, natural gas, and water termination practices. The rules apply to all residential customers of investor-owned utilities in Idaho under the jurisdiction of the PUC such as Idaho Power, Avista Utilities, Intermountain Gas, Utah Power & Light, Pacific Power & Light, Citizens Utility, and United Water.

These rules do not apply to cooperative utilities or municipally owned utilities.

Attached is a What to Do If Your Landlord Shuts Off Your Utility Service(s) Guide created by Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc.

This guide provides information on your rights in this situation and the steps you can take to get your utility service turned back on as quickly as possible.