• apartment for rent image by dead_account from Fotolia.com
  
  Idaho tenants and landlords are protected by state and national laws to ensure fair treatment, nondiscrimination and legal transparency. The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against tenants based on race, age, familial status--including children under 18, and pregnant women--religion, color, sex, national origin and disability. Idaho statutes also protect landlords from theft by tenants and damage to rental buildings.
  
  

Protections for Renters

• Anti-discrimination policies cover a wide variety of renters.house image by Byron Moore from Fotolia.com
  
  Idaho state law follows national laws preventing landlords from discriminating against tenants based on such factors as age or national origin. In addition, any building offered for public rental must accommodate individuals with disabilities. If the building is inaccessible, the landlord must provide "reasonable accommodations" to allow disabled individuals to enjoy fully the benefits of a dwelling.
  
  Unless the landlord has given them a 30-day notice, tenants cannot be evicted simply because the landlord wants to rent the residence to others. A landlord cannot turn off the utilities, change the locks or use other measures to force tenants out, unless the landlord has given the tenants written requests of the need to vacate and has a court order for the tenants' removal.
  
  Tenants who believe an eviction is the result of participating in a tenants association or requesting rental repairs should consult an attorney; such evictions violate state law.
  
  

Protections for Landlords

• Property owners are protected by state and national laws.brand new home 204 image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
  
  Idaho landlords may evict any tenant who violates terms of the lease, is behind on rental payments or engages in unlawful use, production or sale of controlled substances. Landlords must provide the tenant with three-days' notice and the reason for the eviction. If the tenant pays the outstanding balance of the rent or begins to follow the terms of the lease, the landlord can't evict the tenant. However, if the tenant continues to violate the terms of the lease or does not pay the rest of the delinquent rent, the tenant must leave the residence. If the tenant does not leave, the landlord may have a sheriff remove the tenant.
  
  A landlord can give a 30-day notice to vacate to tenants who have a month-to-month lease.
  
  Any tenant who resides in the rental property for 10 days after the lease has expired, or for 48 hours after receiving a registered letter demanding the return of the property from the landlord, is committing theft by lessee, and can be charged accordingly. Tenants using fraudulent information to secure a rental property by providing a false identity, job or other information are also considered to have committed theft.
  
  

Resolving Rental Disputes

• Several legal organizations can help you with rental disputes.white man and woman - business handshake image by endostock from Fotolia.com
  
  If tenants believe a landlord is unfairly evicting them, they may consult an attorney immediately. Organizations such as legal aid societies offer free or low-cost advice and services for qualified renters. The case, however, may end in eviction proceedings. Expedited evictions, where illicit substances are involved or rent is past due, can occur five to 12 days after the tenant receives legal notice from the landlord. Regular evictions, by contrast, require the landlord serve the tenant with a court summons, and the tenant has 20 days to respond. A tenant who is deemed fairly evicted must leave the premises, or the sheriff may remove the tenant from the dwelling based on a writ of restitution.