6 Del. C. §§ 2511, 2513, 2525 § 2513
Unlawful practice
Operative Text
(a) The act, use, or employment by any person of any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation, unfair practice, or the concealment, suppression, or omission of any material fact with intent that others rely upon such concealment, suppression, or omission, in connection with the sale, lease, receipt, or advertisement of any merchandise, whether or not any person has in fact been misled, deceived, or damaged thereby, is an unlawful practice. It shall also be an unlawful practice to misrepresent the geographic location of a business or supplier which raises or sells flowers and/or ornamental plants by any of the following: (1) Listing a local telephone number in a local telephone directory if: a. Calls to the telephone number are routinely forwarded or otherwise transferred to a business location that is outside the calling area covered by the local telephone directory other than to counties contiguous to this State; and b. The listing fails to identify the locality and state of the supplier’s business; or (2) Listing a fictitious business name or an assumed business name in a local telephone directory if: a. The name misrepresents the supplier’s geographic location; and b. The listing fails to identify the locality and state of the supplier’s business. (b) This section shall not apply: (1) To the owner or publisher of newspapers, magazines, publications or printed matter wherein such advertisement appears, or to the owner or operator of a radio or television station which disseminates such advertisement when the owner, publisher or operator has no knowledge of the intent, design or purpose of the advertiser; or (2) To any advertisement or merchandising practice which is subject to and complies with the rules and regulations, of and the statutes administered by, the Federal Trade Commission; or (3) To matters subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission, or of the Insurance Commissioner of this State, except for matters covered by § 1014 of Title 26, but only as they relate to community-owned energy generating facilities. (c) For purposes of this section, “in connection with” includes any unfair or deceptive conduct, as enumerated in subsection (a) of this section, that occurs before, during, or after the sale, lease, receipt, or advertisement of any merchandise.
Under 6 Del. C. §§ 2511, 2513, and 2525, Delaware law prohibits any person from using deception, fraud, misrepresentation, unfair practices, or the deliberate concealment of material facts in connection with the sale, lease, or advertisement of goods or services — even if no one was actually harmed or misled. The prohibition extends across the entire transaction lifecycle, covering conduct that occurs before, during, or after a sale or lease. Certain parties, such as media publishers unaware of an advertiser's intent and businesses that fully comply with Federal Trade Commission rules, are exempt from this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Delaware should be aware that 6 Del. C. §§ 2511, 2513, and 2525 broadly prohibit deceptive or unfair conduct in connection with leasing residential or commercial space. Compliant operators generally ensure that all advertising, lease terms, and communications accurately represent the property, its location, pricing, and material conditions — omitting nothing that a prospective tenant would reasonably consider important. Because the law covers conduct before, during, and after a lease transaction, operators typically maintain consistent accuracy throughout the entire rental process, from initial listings through move-out communications.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Delaware's consumer protection provision at 6 Del. C. §§ 2511, 2513, and 2525 gives tenants a basis to challenge deceptive or misleading conduct by a landlord at any stage of a rental transaction, including misrepresentations made in advertisements, during lease signing, or after occupancy begins. Tenants who believe a landlord has concealed a material fact or made a false promise in connection with a lease may have grounds to raise this as a legal claim or defense, regardless of whether they suffered measurable financial harm. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the Delaware Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Unit or consulting a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation