The rights of a commercial landlord are controlled by the contract executed with the tenant. The rights of a residential landlord are controlled by the contract and state law. State law limits the power of residential landlords in an effort to limit the abuses that were once common. The areas affected by state law may concern the security deposit, landlord liens, eviction, lockouts, utility cutoffs, habitability, smoke detectors and security devices. If the landlord does not comply with state law, he or she may face penalties imposed by the law even if the landlord was in compliance with the rental agreement signed by the tenant.
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