What Are The Most Landlord-Friendly States? (2026)

What Makes a State Landlord Friendly?

In every state, landlords and tenants need to coexist. But when you look closely at each state’s laws, you might notice that the rules offer a slight advantage to one or the other. States that are landlord-friendly usually have some or all of the following:

• A fast and simple eviction process
• Low property taxes
• Low or no rent control

Depending on where you look, buying a rental property in a landlord-friendly state can be considerably easier than buying one elsewhere.

Most Landlord-Friendly States for Rental Owners

The laws in states that are advantageous to landlords could save you time, money, or both. Many of these states make it possible to quickly evict tenants who aren’t paying or are otherwise causing problems. They also give landlords more freedom when setting security deposit amounts.

Eviction, Rent-Control, Deposit and Tax Rules Compared

The following are some of the friendliest states for landlords:

• Texas: Three-day eviction notice, no cap on security deposits, no rent control
• North Carolina: Five-day eviction notice, no rent control, higher security deposit caps
• Montana: Three-day eviction notice, no cap on late fees, no rent control

Keep in mind that state laws evolve over time. Always verify that you have up-to-date legal information before making purchase decisions.

Least Landlord-Friendly States

Broadly speaking, states along the West Coast and Northeast tend to be the least friendly to landlords. For example, in California, unauthorized squatters can gain tenant-like rights. Evicting them can take months and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

New York (especially New York City) is one of the more difficult places to be a landlord. New York City has a complicated array of regulations and rent controls, and any tenant going through the eviction process is entitled to free legal aid.

How Local Ordinances Change State Rules

In many cases, the strictest tenant-friendly laws appear at the local level, not the state level. New York is a great example. The whole state is generally considered to be tenant-friendly, but New York City has several extra tenant protections.

What to Check Before Buying in Any State

Always make sure you fully understand the landlord-tenant laws in the state and locality you’re considering. Buying property is a major commitment of time and money, and you should know exactly what you’re getting into before you move forward.