Lease Clause Waiving Tenant Rights or Complaints: What to Know (State-by-State)

Some leases try to make you give up rights in advance: to request repairs, to contact a housing inspector, to join a tenants' group, or to dispute charges. Others give the landlord broad power to end the lease or raise rent for any reason right after you complain. Many states have anti-retaliation rules that protect tenants who act in good faith — check yours in the table below, and treat a clause like this as a reason to ask questions before you sign.

What it looks like in a lease

“Tenant waives all rights and remedies under any landlord-tenant statute to the fullest extent permitted.”
“Tenant agrees not to contact any government agency regarding the condition of the premises.”
“Landlord may terminate this lease at any time if Tenant makes repeated maintenance complaints.”

Why it's a red flag

A clause that discourages repair requests or inspections can leave you living with problems you are entitled to have fixed.
A broad termination or rent-increase right, used right after a complaint, is exactly what anti-retaliation rules address.
Even if a waiver would not hold up, it can still be used to pressure you — better to get it removed up front.

What to ask your landlord

Can the general waiver of rights be removed, or limited to specific, named items?
Can you confirm in writing that repair requests and good-faith complaints will not affect renewal or rent?
Can the termination clause be limited to clear reasons such as non-payment or serious lease violations?

State-by-state rules

What each state says a landlord may not do after a tenant complains or asserts their rights. Each row links to the statute. Data as of 2026-10-18.

Arizona
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not retaliate (raise rent, cut services, or bring/threaten eviction) because a tenant complained to a housing-code agency, complained to the landlord about repairs, or joined a tenants' union. A complaint within 6 months before the act creates a presumption of retaliation.
Source: A.R.S. § 33-1381
California
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not retaliate (rent increase, reduced services, eviction) within 180 days after the tenant exercises legal rights such as complaining about habitability.
Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.5
Colorado
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not raise rent, cut services, end the lease or threaten eviction because a tenant complained about habitability or joined a tenants' association; tenant can recover the greater of 3 months' rent or 3x actual damages plus attorney fees.
Source: C.R.S. § 38-12-509
Florida
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not retaliate against good-faith complaints or tenant organizing.
Source: Fla. Stat. § 83.64
Georgia
Anti-retaliation rule
Retaliation for good-faith repair requests or complaints to authorities is prohibited.
Source: O.C.G.A. § 44-7-24
Illinois
Anti-retaliation rule
Retaliation against tenants who complain to authorities or exercise legal rights is prohibited.
Source: 765 ILCS 720
Kentucky
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or sue/threaten eviction because the tenant complained to a code agency or the landlord, or joined a tenants' union; a complaint within 1 year before the act creates a presumption of retaliation (URLTA areas).
Source: KRS 383.705
Louisiana
Anti-retaliation rule
Not verified yet
Maryland
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not sue or threaten to sue for possession, arbitrarily raise rent, cut services or end a periodic tenancy because of a good-faith complaint (to the landlord or a public agency), a lawsuit, tenant-organization activity, or someone summoning police/emergency services; damages up to 3 months' rent plus attorney fees. Protection requires the tenant to be current on rent (unless lawfully withholding) and covers actions within 6 months of the complaint/lawsuit.
Source: Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208.1
Minnesota
Anti-retaliation rule
A landlord may not evict, increase obligations or decrease services as a penalty for a tenant's good-faith complaint or for enforcing lease or legal rights. If the action comes within 90 days of the complaint/act, the landlord bears the burden of proving it was not retaliatory.
Source: Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.441, 504B.285, subds. 2-3
Missouri
Anti-retaliation rule
Not verified yet
Nevada
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not retaliate (end or refuse to renew tenancy, raise rent, cut services, or threaten eviction) because a tenant made a good-faith code complaint, organized a tenants' group, or used habitability remedies.
Source: NRS 118A.510
New York
Anti-retaliation rule
Retaliation for good-faith complaints is prohibited; rebuttable presumption of retaliation for actions within 1 year of the complaint.
Source: N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 223-b
North Carolina
Anti-retaliation rule
Retaliatory eviction is a defense when it follows a good-faith complaint or exercise of rights within 12 months.
Source: N.C.G.S. § 42-37.1
Ohio
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not raise rent, cut services or evict because a tenant complained to authorities or the landlord or joined a tenant union.
Source: Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.02
Oregon
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not retaliate (terminate, raise rent, cut services, threaten eviction) because a tenant complained to a government agency or the landlord in good faith, joined a tenants' union, testified against the landlord, or asserted legal rights.
Source: ORS 90.385
Pennsylvania
Anti-retaliation rule
Not verified yet
South Carolina
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not raise rent above fair-market value, cut essential services, or sue for possession because the tenant complained to a code agency or to the landlord about a violation of the Act. Liability up to 3 months' rent or treble actual damages (whichever is greater) plus attorney fees. Tenant must give written notice of the defense within 10 days after service of the Rule to Vacate.
Source: S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910
Tennessee
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not retaliate by raising rent, cutting services or bringing/threatening a possession action because the tenant complained to the landlord about a violation or used remedies under the Act (exceptions: tenant-caused code violation, tenant in rent default, repairs that require vacating).
Source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-514
Texas
Anti-retaliation rule
No retaliation for 6 months after a tenant in good faith requests repairs or exercises legal rights.
Source: Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331
Utah
Anti-retaliation rule
Not verified yet
Virginia
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or threaten/bring an eviction or termination because the tenant complained to a housing-code agency, complained or sued under the Act, joined a tenants' organization, or testified against the landlord. Tenant may recover actual damages and raise retaliation as a defense. (Expanded version effective January 1, 2027.)
Source: Va. Code § 55.1-1258
Washington
Anti-retaliation rule
Landlord may not retaliate (eviction, rent increase, reduced services, added obligations) for good-faith complaints to authorities or asserting rights; action within 90 days is presumed retaliatory (rebuttable), except when the tenant is behind on rent or in breach.
Source: RCW 59.18.240, 59.18.250

State	Anti-retaliation rule	Source
Arizona	Landlord may not retaliate (raise rent, cut services, or bring/threaten eviction) because a tenant complained to a housing-code agency, complained to the landlord about repairs, or joined a tenants' union. A complaint within 6 months before the act creates a presumption of retaliation.	A.R.S. § 33-1381
California	Landlord may not retaliate (rent increase, reduced services, eviction) within 180 days after the tenant exercises legal rights such as complaining about habitability.	Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.5
Colorado	Landlord may not raise rent, cut services, end the lease or threaten eviction because a tenant complained about habitability or joined a tenants' association; tenant can recover the greater of 3 months' rent or 3x actual damages plus attorney fees.	C.R.S. § 38-12-509
Florida	Landlord may not retaliate against good-faith complaints or tenant organizing.	Fla. Stat. § 83.64
Georgia	Retaliation for good-faith repair requests or complaints to authorities is prohibited.	O.C.G.A. § 44-7-24
Illinois	Retaliation against tenants who complain to authorities or exercise legal rights is prohibited.	765 ILCS 720
Kentucky	Landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or sue/threaten eviction because the tenant complained to a code agency or the landlord, or joined a tenants' union; a complaint within 1 year before the act creates a presumption of retaliation (URLTA areas).	KRS 383.705
Louisiana	Not verified yet	—
Maryland	Landlord may not sue or threaten to sue for possession, arbitrarily raise rent, cut services or end a periodic tenancy because of a good-faith complaint (to the landlord or a public agency), a lawsuit, tenant-organization activity, or someone summoning police/emergency services; damages up to 3 months' rent plus attorney fees. Protection requires the tenant to be current on rent (unless lawfully withholding) and covers actions within 6 months of the complaint/lawsuit.	Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-208.1
Minnesota	A landlord may not evict, increase obligations or decrease services as a penalty for a tenant's good-faith complaint or for enforcing lease or legal rights. If the action comes within 90 days of the complaint/act, the landlord bears the burden of proving it was not retaliatory.	Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.441, 504B.285, subds. 2-3
Missouri	Not verified yet	—
Nevada	Landlord may not retaliate (end or refuse to renew tenancy, raise rent, cut services, or threaten eviction) because a tenant made a good-faith code complaint, organized a tenants' group, or used habitability remedies.	NRS 118A.510
New York	Retaliation for good-faith complaints is prohibited; rebuttable presumption of retaliation for actions within 1 year of the complaint.	N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 223-b
North Carolina	Retaliatory eviction is a defense when it follows a good-faith complaint or exercise of rights within 12 months.	N.C.G.S. § 42-37.1
Ohio	Landlord may not raise rent, cut services or evict because a tenant complained to authorities or the landlord or joined a tenant union.	Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.02
Oregon	Landlord may not retaliate (terminate, raise rent, cut services, threaten eviction) because a tenant complained to a government agency or the landlord in good faith, joined a tenants' union, testified against the landlord, or asserted legal rights.	ORS 90.385
Pennsylvania	Not verified yet	—
South Carolina	Landlord may not raise rent above fair-market value, cut essential services, or sue for possession because the tenant complained to a code agency or to the landlord about a violation of the Act. Liability up to 3 months' rent or treble actual damages (whichever is greater) plus attorney fees. Tenant must give written notice of the defense within 10 days after service of the Rule to Vacate.	S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910
Tennessee	Landlord may not retaliate by raising rent, cutting services or bringing/threatening a possession action because the tenant complained to the landlord about a violation or used remedies under the Act (exceptions: tenant-caused code violation, tenant in rent default, repairs that require vacating).	Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-514
Texas	No retaliation for 6 months after a tenant in good faith requests repairs or exercises legal rights.	Tex. Prop. Code § 92.331
Utah	Not verified yet	—
Virginia	Landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or threaten/bring an eviction or termination because the tenant complained to a housing-code agency, complained or sued under the Act, joined a tenants' organization, or testified against the landlord. Tenant may recover actual damages and raise retaliation as a defense. (Expanded version effective January 1, 2027.)	Va. Code § 55.1-1258
Washington	Landlord may not retaliate (eviction, rent increase, reduced services, added obligations) for good-faith complaints to authorities or asserting rights; action within 90 days is presumed retaliatory (rebuttable), except when the tenant is behind on rent or in breach.	RCW 59.18.240, 59.18.250

Cities and counties can add stricter rules (e.g. Chicago, New York City). Other states: coming soon.

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Other clauses to check

General information only, not legal advice. Laws change — verify with the linked source or a licensed attorney.