Rent Escrow as a Tool for Enforcing Tenants’ Rights

Overview

For renters whose landlords fail to meet standards that ensure that their properties meet basic structural, health, and safety standards, a legal process called rent escrow can be utilized to compel landlords to bring their properties up to specified standards. Rent escrow allows a tenant to pay rent directly to the court instead of the landlord until a court-ordered inspection determines that the landlord has made the necessary repairs. This fact sheet outlines the use of rent escrow as a tool for addressing inadequate and unsafe housing.