Utah Code § 57-22 § 57-22-4

Owner's duties.

In Force
Verified 10/16/2026 · Next check 10/23/2026
effective 10/16/2026UtahHabitability & Repair

Operative Text

Utah Code § 57-22 § 57-22-4
Owner's duties.

(1) To protect the physical health and safety of the ordinary renter, an owner:

(a) may not rent the premises unless they are safe, sanitary, and fit for human occupancy; and
(b) shall:
(i) maintain common areas of the residential rental unit in a sanitary and safe condition;
(ii) maintain electrical systems, plumbing, heating, and hot and cold water;
(iii) maintain any air conditioning system in an operable condition;
(iv) maintain other appliances and facilities as specifically contracted in the rental agreement; and
(v) for buildings containing more than two residential rental units, provide and maintain appropriate receptacles for garbage and other waste and arrange for its removal, except to the extent that the renter and owner otherwise agree.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in the rental agreement, an owner shall provide the renter at least 24 hours prior notice of the owner's entry into the renter's residential rental unit.
(3) (a) Before an owner accepts an application fee or any other payment from a prospective renter, the owner shall disclose in writing to the prospective renter:
(i) a good faith estimate of:

(A) the rent amount; and
(B) the amount of each fixed, non-rent expense that is part of the rental agreement;
(ii) the type of each use-based, non-rent expense that is part of the rental agreement;
(iii) the day on which the residential rental unit is scheduled to be available;
(iv) the criteria that the owner will consider in determining the prospective renter's eligibility as a renter in the residential rental unit, including criteria related to the prospective renter's criminal history, credit, income, employment, or rental history; and
(v) the requirements and process for the prospective renter to recover money the prospective renter pays in relation to the residential rental unit, as described in Subsection (4).
(b) An owner may satisfy the written disclosure requirement described in Subsection (3)(a)(i) through a rental application, deposit agreement, or written summary.
(4) (a) A prospective renter may make a written demand to the owner of a residential rental unit requesting the return of money the prospective renter paid in relation to the rental of the residential rental unit, if:
(i) (A) an amount the owner provides in the good-faith estimate described in Subsection (3) is different than the amount in the rental agreement; or
(B) the rental agreement includes a type of use-based, non-rent expense that was not disclosed under Subsection (3); and
(ii) the prospective renter:

(A) makes the written demand within five business days after the day on which the prospective renter receives the rental agreement; and
(B) at the time the prospective renter makes the written demand, has not signed the rental agreement or taken possession of the residential rental unit.
(b) If a prospective renter makes a written demand in accordance with Subsection (4)(a), the owner shall return all money the prospective renter paid the owner within five business days after the day on which the owner receives the written demand.
(5) An owner may not charge a renter:

(a) a late fee that exceeds the greater of:
(i) 10% of the rent agreed to in the rental agreement; or
(ii) $75; or
(b) a fee, fine, assessment, interest, or other cost:
(i) in an amount greater than the amount agreed to in the rental agreement; or
(ii) that is not included in the rental agreement, unless:

(A) the rental agreement is on a month-to-month basis; and
(B) the owner provides the renter a 15-day notice of the charge.
(6) Before an owner and a prospective renter enter into a rental agreement, the owner shall:

(a) provide the prospective renter a written inventory of the condition of the residential rental unit, excluding ordinary wear and tear;
(b) furnish the renter a form to document the condition of the residential rental unit and then allow the resident a reasonable time after the renter's occupancy of the residential rental unit to complete and return the form; or
(c) provide the prospective renter an opportunity to conduct a walkthrough inspection of the residential rental unit.
(7) At or before the commencement of the rental term under a rental agreement, an owner shall:

(a) disclose in writing to the renter:
(i) the owner's name, address, and telephone number; or
(ii) (A) the name, address, and telephone number of any person authorized to manage the residential rental unit; or
(B) the name, address, and telephone number of any person authorized to act for and on behalf of the owner for purposes of receiving notice under this chapter or performing the owner's duties under this chapter or under the rental agreement, if the person authorized to manage the residential rental unit does not have authority to receive notice under this chapter; and
(b) provide the renter:
(i) an executed copy of the rental agreement, if the rental agreement is a written agreement; and
(ii) a copy of any rules and regulations applicable to the residential rental unit.
(8) Nothing in this section prohibits any fee, fine, assessment, interest, or cost that is allowed by law or stated in the rental agreement.
(9) A renter may not use an owner's failure to comply with a requirement of Subsection (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7) as a basis:

(a) to excuse the renter's compliance with a rental agreement; or
(b) to bring a cause of action against the owner.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Utah Code Ann. § 57-22-4 sets out a broad list of duties that residential rental property owners must fulfill. These include keeping units safe and sanitary, maintaining essential systems like plumbing and heating, giving at least 24 hours' notice before entering a unit, and making written disclosures about rent, fees, and eligibility criteria before collecting any application money. The law also caps late fees, requires pre-move-in condition documentation, and gives prospective renters a limited window to reclaim payments if disclosed costs differ from the actual rental agreement.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 16, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Operators subject to Utah Code Ann. § 57-22-4 generally ensure units meet habitability standards before renting, keep common areas and building systems in working order, and provide written fee and eligibility disclosures before accepting any application payment. Compliant managers also document unit condition prior to occupancy, supply executed lease copies and contact information at lease commencement, and observe the 24-hour entry notice requirement. Late fees must not exceed the statutory cap of 10% of rent or $75, whichever is greater.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Utah Code Ann. § 57-22-4 establishes baseline rights around habitability, entry notice, pre-application disclosures, and fee limits. If disclosed costs differ from the actual lease terms, a prospective renter has five business days after receiving the agreement to submit a written demand for a refund—provided the lease has not been signed and possession has not been taken. Notably, the statute itself states that an owner's failure to meet certain procedural requirements under this section cannot be used as a basis to excuse lease obligations or to bring a legal claim; tenants may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization to understand 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 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 16, 2026
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References Out

No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

Utah Code § 57-22
Utah Code § 57-22-5
Utah Code § 57-22-3
Utah Code § 57-22-4
Utah Code § 57-22-5
Utah Code § 57-22-6
Utah Code § 57-22-5.1

Related Rules

§ 244.260
Compliance required
§ 14.567
ADOPTED BY REFERENCE
§ 244.340
Sewer and water connections

Source Information

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