Wyoming Rent Control Laws in 2024

Introduction to Wyoming’s Rent Control Laws

Wyoming does not have any statewide rent control laws that limit how much landlords can raise rents each year. Landlords have the ability to raise rents to market rates when a lease expires or with proper notice during a lease term, without any caps on the amount of the increase. 

Rent control policies that limit rent increases are very rare in Wyoming. Currently, no cities or municipalities in Wyoming have implemented local rent control ordinances. The state legislature has not passed any laws that allow or prohibit local rent control. However, the lack of cities with rent control indicates they are likely not allowed under state law.

Overall, Wyoming provides very limited protections for tenants against large rent increases. Landlords have broad abilities to raise rents to match market prices. Tenants have little leverage or legal recourse when it comes to fighting major hikes in rent each year. The best protections are to negotiate fixed rent increases into longer lease terms.

Wyoming Landlord-Tenant Laws

Wyoming landlords are required to follow certain laws and regulations when it comes to managing rental properties. Some key aspects of Wyoming landlord-tenant laws include:

Security Deposits

In Wyoming, landlords can charge a security deposit up to the amount of 1 month's rent. Landlords must return security deposits within 30 days after a tenant moves out, along with an itemized statement of any deductions. Reasons a landlord can deduct from a deposit include unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, and cleaning needed to return the unit to the same condition.

Required Notices 

Landlords in Wyoming must provide proper notice before entering rental units, according to WY Statute § 1-21-1203. For non-emergency reasons, landlords must give tenants at least 48 hours notice. Notice can be given verbally or in writing. Emergencies allow entry without notice.

Entry Rules

Landlords have the right to enter for reasonable business purposes and upon proper notice. Reasonable purposes include inspections, maintenance, repairs, and showing prospective tenants. Entry must be during normal business hours. Tenants cannot unreasonably deny access but can be home during maintenance or repairs.

Raising Rent in Wyoming

In Wyoming, landlords can raise rent on tenants with proper advance notice. There are no rent control laws that limit the amount a landlord can increase rent when a lease expires. 

The amount of notice required depends on the terms of the lease. For month-to-month rental agreements, landlords must provide 15 days' written notice before increasing rent. For leases longer than month-to-month, landlords must provide notice of a rent increase at least 15 days before the expiration of the lease term.

If the landlord fails to provide proper notice of a rent increase, the tenant is entitled to pay the old rental rate for an additional 30 days after receiving written notice. After that, the new rental rate takes effect.

When a fixed-term lease expires and the tenancy continues on a month-to-month basis, the landlord can raise the rent to any amount with proper 15 days' notice. There are no limits or caps on how much landlords can increase rent from one lease term to the next.

Some leases may include clauses that allow landlords to pass through increases in property taxes, utilities, maintenance costs, and other expenses. This allows rents to be raised without notice in accordance with the lease terms.

Unless restricted by the lease, landlords in Wyoming have broad discretion to raise rents to market rates when renewal time comes up. Proper notice is required, but there are no rent control laws restricting the amount.

Disputes and Breaking a Lease

If a dispute arises between a tenant and landlord in Wyoming, there are a few remedies available. 

First, the tenant can try to negotiate directly with the landlord to resolve the issue. This may involve proposing solutions, getting agreements in writing, or seeking mediation if needed.

If that fails, the tenant may file a lawsuit against the landlord in small claims court for issues involving security deposits or property damage under $6,000. For larger claims, a formal lawsuit can be filed in civil court.

There are certain situations that legally allow a tenant to break a lease early in Wyoming without penalty:

• The landlord fails to provide a habitable living environment by not making necessary repairs.
• The tenant is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and needs to move for safety reasons (Safe Homes Act).
• The tenant is called to active military duty after signing the lease.
• The landlord harasses the tenant or violates their privacy rights.
• The landlord sells the rental unit and the new owner wants to personally occupy it.

If breaking the lease for one of these qualifying reasons, the tenant must provide advance written notice as required by law. The tenant may need to provide supporting documentation as well.

Normal subletting of a rental unit requires obtaining the landlord's written consent beforehand. The original leaseholder is still responsible if the sublessee causes any damage or fails to pay rent.

Eviction Rules in Wyoming

Wyoming state law outlines the eviction process that landlords must follow to remove tenants from a rental property. Landlords cannot forcibly evict tenants on their own by changing locks or shutting off utilities - they must go through the court system.

Notice Requirements

To start the eviction process, landlords in Wyoming must provide tenants with a proper written notice. For nonpayment of rent, a 3-day notice to pay or vacate is required. For other lease violations, a 10-day notice to comply or vacate is required. This gives tenants a chance to respond before an eviction is filed.

After the notice period expires, the landlord can file an eviction lawsuit with the court. The court will schedule a hearing and issue a summons for the tenant to appear and respond.

Tenant Rights in Evictions 

Tenants have the right to attend the court hearing and present any defenses against the eviction. Common defenses include improper notice, uninhabitable living conditions, or retaliation. The judge will hear both sides and make a ruling whether to grant the eviction or not.

If the eviction is granted, the judge will issue a writ of restitution giving the tenant a final date to vacate. Tenants should take this seriously as the sheriff can forcibly remove them after the deadline. Tenants should avoid an eviction on their record if possible by voluntarily moving out after receiving the initial notice to vacate.

Disposal of Property Rules

If a tenant leaves any personal property behind after vacating, Wyoming law requires landlords to store it safely for 30 days. The landlord must mail a notice giving the tenant a chance to retrieve their possessions. After 30 days, unclaimed items can be disposed of or sold by the landlord.

Eviction is a last resort for noncompliant tenants. Following proper procedures and understanding both parties' rights helps avoid potential fair housing violations.

Requesting Repairs and Inspections

When renting in Wyoming, tenants have the right to live in a residence that is in a habitable condition. This means the rental must provide basic living necessities like heat, hot water, electricity, and appliances in good working order. Landlords are required to make repairs and maintain rental properties in Wyoming. 

If something in your rental needs repair, the first step is to contact the landlord or property manager in writing. Send a letter, email, or text message detailing the issue and request it be fixed in a timely manner. Take photos or videos to document the problem. Make sure to keep copies of all communications.  

The landlord then has a reasonable amount of time to complete the repair based on its urgency. Non-emergency issues like appliance malfunctions or leaky faucets may take 1-2 weeks. More serious safety or health hazards like no heat or exposed wiring should be addressed within 24 hours. 

If the landlord does not make the repair in a reasonable timeframe, tenants can take further action like withholding rent or arranging professional repairs themselves. Consult local tenant rights organizations to understand the proper procedures before taking these steps.

It's recommended tenants complete a move-in inspection upon renting a property in Wyoming. Walk through and document any existing damages or maintenance issues left from the previous tenant. Provide this checklist to the landlord to avoid being held responsible for pre-existing problems when moving out. Taking photos or video is also wise to prove the condition at move-in.

Moving Out of a Rental in Wyoming

When you are ready to move out of a rental property in Wyoming, it is important to follow proper procedures to avoid disputes over your security deposit. Here are some key steps to take when vacating a rental unit:

Provide Proper Notice

Review your lease agreement and verify the notice you need to provide to your landlord before moving out. Typically this ranges from 30-60 days advance written notice in Wyoming. Your notice should be in writing, whether in an email or letter, and state the date you plan to vacate. Keep a copy for your records.

Conduct a Move-Out Inspection  

Schedule a joint move-out inspection with your landlord where you walk through the property and note any damages. This allows you to point out existing issues versus new damages. If your landlord does not do a move-out inspection, do your own inspection and take dated photos and videos.

Clean the Property

Clean the rental unit thoroughly before turning in your keys. This includes all rooms, appliances, windows, floors, walls, cabinets, etc. Refer to your lease for any specific cleaning requirements. You may be charged for any cleaning the landlord must do after you leave.

Repair Any Damages

If there are any damages beyond normal wear and tear, make repairs yourself or hire professionals before moving out. This includes holes in walls, broken appliances, stains, etc. Repairing damages can avoid deduction claims from your security deposit.

Return All Keys

Return all keys, access cards, parking remotes, etc. to your landlord when you vacate. Get a receipt if possible. You can be charged for unreturned keys or failure to provide access.

Following these end-of-lease procedures helps ensure a smooth move-out process and makes it easier to get your full security deposit back in Wyoming. Maintain open communication with your landlord and leave the rental unit in good condition.

Mobile Home and Trailer Park Laws

Wyoming has specific laws that apply to renting mobile homes and living in trailer parks. These laws provide additional protections for mobile home and trailer park tenants.

The Mobile Home Parks Act regulates the relationship between mobile home park owners and tenants. Under this law, mobile home park owners must provide tenants with a written rental agreement and give proper notice before increasing rent or changing park rules. Tenants are also protected from retaliation if they file complaints against a park owner.

For evictions, mobile home park owners must follow the standard eviction process and allow tenants adequate time to move their home. Owners cannot force the removal of a mobile home or prevent its sale to another tenant. 

The Mobile Home Parks Act also requires park owners to maintain common facilities, roads, and utilities. Tenants can request repairs by notifying the park owner in writing.

Additionally, Wyoming law prohibits cities and counties from banning mobile homes or trailer parks unless they provide an adequate number of spaces zoned for mobile homes. This helps prevent local governments from restricting access to affordable housing options.

Overall, these laws aim to protect the rights of mobile home and trailer park tenants in Wyoming. Renters should be aware of their additional rights when living in these types of rental communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can a landlord raise rent in Wyoming?

There is no statewide limit on how much a landlord can raise rents in Wyoming unless it is specified in the lease agreement. Landlords must provide proper notice before raising rent, but they can increase it to any amount when the lease term expires.

What are renters' rights in Wyoming?

Renters in Wyoming have certain rights protected by law related to issues like security deposits, habitability, notice for entry, and more. Key tenant rights include:

• Requiring proper notice from landlords before entering the unit 
• Having landlords make needed repairs to maintain habitable living conditions
• Getting security deposits returned within 30 days after moving out if no damages
• Terminating a lease early under certain conditions like domestic violence

Can a landlord enter a rental unit without permission in Wyoming?

A landlord in Wyoming must provide tenants with at least 48 hours advance notice to enter the rental unit, except in cases of emergency. Tenants must allow reasonable access for repairs or maintenance. Landlords cannot enter without proper notice unless it is an emergency.

What is the Safe Homes Act in Wyoming?

Wyoming's Safe Homes Act provides protections for victims of domestic violence who need to terminate a rental lease early for safety reasons. With a protection order, victims can break a lease with 30 days notice and without penalty. This overrides lease terms requiring rent through the end of the lease term.