Landlord Responsibility Statements

Nebraska Landlord Responsibility Statement 

Effective Date: November 1, 2025
Jurisdiction: State of Nebraska
Applies To: All landlords, property managers, agents, and listing entities using Tentunit to list residential rental properties (including student-oriented, young-professional, and family housing) in Nebraska.

1. Purpose

This Statement sets forth the operational, legal and ethical obligations that landlords must meet when listing properties via Tentunit in Nebraska. Use of the Tentunit platform constitutes the landlord’s acceptance of and agreement to comply with this Statement, Tentunit’s Terms of Service and Payment Terms, the Fair Housing & Equal Access Policy, and all applicable federal, state and local laws. This document is not legal advice; landlords should consult qualified counsel for full compliance.

2. Listing Accuracy, Transparency & Advertising Standards

Landlords must ensure all listings on Tentunit are truthful, clear, complete and current — accurately reflecting the property and the terms being offered.

Required Disclosures

Each listing must clearly disclose:

  • Monthly rent amount, lease term (start/end or renewal scenario), and earliest availability date.
  • All one-time and recurring fees: application/screening fees, move-in/administrative fees, pet fees or deposits, parking/amenity fees, utility re-billing or allocation fees, etc.
  • Security deposit amount (or equivalent fee), the conditions under which it may be withheld, and timeframe for return or itemization of deductions. (See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416)
  • Utility responsibilities: which utilities the tenant pays vs landlord; if sub‐metering or allocation is used, describe method.
  • Unit condition and amenities: photographs and description must represent the actual unit offered (model units only if clearly disclosed and materially identical).
  • Screening criteria: e.g., income threshold, credit/rental history, guarantor/co-signer requirement, student eligibility, roommate/house‐sharing terms.
  • Availability: The unit must genuinely be available for lease; a listing must be promptly updated or removed when status changes.

Prohibited Practices

  • Marketing units that are not genuinely available without updating the listing promptly.
  • Misrepresenting key facts: number of bedrooms/baths, square-footage, condition, finishes, views or amenities.
  • Using “starting at” or “from” pricing without clear disclosure of eligibility, unit availability and timing.
  • Hiding or omitting material fees or charges to mislead a reasonable renter about total cost.
  • “Bait-and-switch” practices: advertising one set of unit/terms then offering materially different ones without full disclosure.

Legal/Regulatory Context

Under the Nebraska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 et seq.) the statutory obligations include deposit/disclosure rules (e.g., § 76-1416)

Landlords’ advertising and listing practices must align with federal truth-in-advertising laws and fair housing obligations.

3. Fair Housing & Equal Access

Landlords on Tentunit must comply with the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.) and applicable Nebraska non-discrimination statutes and local ordinances.

You must:

  • Apply neutral, consistently enforced screening criteria to all applicants, regardless of protected class (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, age if protected).
  • Provide reasonable accommodations or modifications for persons with disabilities, as required by law.
  • Avoid discriminatory or exclusionary language in advertisements, communications, listings, screening or leasing decisions.
  • Maintain documentation of screening criteria, decisions, and accommodation/modification requests.

4. Communication Standards & Platform Responsiveness

To align with Tentunit’s student/young-professional rental focus and maintain platform integrity, landlords must maintain timely, documented communication:

  • Acknowledge listing inquiries, application submissions, maintenance/repair requests via Tentunit (or another documented channel) within 24 hours, and provide a substantive follow-up within 48 hours.
  • Keep applicants informed of their status (approved, denied, wait-list) and keep tenants informed of scheduled entries, inspections, maintenance, or lease/policy changes.
  • Maintain listing data accuracy: if rent, fees, availability, amenities, photos or policies change, update the listing promptly.
  • Communicate professionally, respectfully and non-discriminatory. Repeated failures, abusive conduct or discriminatory communication may result in listing suspension or account termination by Tentunit.

5. Lease Execution, Legal Compliance & Contract Terms

All leases executed via Tentunit for Nebraska properties must comply with Nebraska law and reflect best practice standards.

Required Lease Elements

  • The lease should be in writing (or properly documented electronic equivalent). While Nebraska law may allow certain oral agreements, for the reliability of the platform a written lease is strongly recommended.
  • Include full legal name and mailing address of the landlord or agent for notices and service of process (see Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1417)
  • The lease must clearly state: rent amount and due date; lease term (fixed or periodic); renewal/termination mechanics; security deposit amount and handling; all recurring or one-time fees; utility responsibilities; screening criteria; student/young-professional relevant terms (roommates, subleasing, early termination) if applicable.
  • Include required disclosures: e.g., federal lead-based paint hazard notice (for units built pre-1978), any local or state required consumer disclosures.
  • The lease must not include terms that waive tenant statutory rights or permit unlawful “self-help” evictions (lock-outs, utility shut-off, etc.).
  • Termination/notice provisions must align with Nebraska statutes: e.g., for simple non-cause month-to-month tenancy, at least 30-day notice is required (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1437)

6. Habitability, Maintenance & Repair Obligations

Landlords must deliver and maintain leased premises in a safe, habitable, clean and code-compliant condition, per Nebraska law and best practice.

Key obligations include:

  • Maintain structural components: roof, walls, floors, windows/doors, stairways/porches, handrails in safe, usable condition (see Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419)
  • Provide and maintain functioning utilities/systems if specified in lease or required by local code: plumbing, electrical, sanitation, locks/egress.
  • If a landlord fails to supply essential services (heat, water, hot water) or materially affects health/safety, the tenant may give notice and terminate the lease under statute (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1427)
  • Respond promptly to repair requests: The tenant may give written notice describing the deficiency and state that unless the landlord remedies it within 14 days the tenant may terminate the lease (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1425)
  • Maintain documentation: repair request date/time, vendor/work-order, completion date/time, tenant notification, before/after photographic evidence.
  • Landlord must not retaliate against tenant for exercising legal rights (repair requests, deposit claims, filing complaints) (see local landlord-tenant rights guides)

7. Entry, Inspections & Tenant Privacy

Landlords must respect the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment and provide access lawfully and with proper notice.

  • Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1423, landlord may enter with at least 24 hours’ written notice for non-emergency entry and only at a reasonable time.
  • Entry is permitted for legitimate purposes: inspection, repairs, showing unit to prospective tenants or purchasers, agreed improvements, or other lease-specified reasons.
  • The landlord should document: notice provided (date/time), actual entry date/time, purpose of entry, persons present, condition observed, photographs if applicable.
  • At move-out, best practice is to offer tenant a walkthrough, use a move-in checklist and date-stamped photos to support deposit reconciliation/disputes.

8. Security Deposit Handling & Administration

Nebraska law under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 and related sections governs security deposits. 

Key Rules

  • Maximum Deposit Amount: A landlord may not demand or receive security (however denominated) in an amount in excess of one month’s periodic rent, except that a pet deposit not in excess of one-quarter of one month’s rent may be demanded when appropriate. (§ 76-1416(1))
  • Return Timeline & Itemization: Upon termination of tenancy, the landlord must apply the deposit or prepaid rent to rent or damages due. The balance, if any, plus a written itemization of deductions must be delivered or mailed to tenant within 14 days after termination. (§ 76-1416(2))
  • Permissible Deductions: Only amounts for unpaid rent, other funds due under the rental agreement, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other lease-specified obligations. (§ 76-1416(2) & § 76-1485)
  • Tenant Remedies for Non-Compliance: If landlord fails to comply, tenant may recover deposit + court costs and attorney’s fees. If landlord’s failure is willful and not in good faith, tenant may recover an amount equal to one month’s rent or two times the deposit amount, whichever is less. (§ 76-1416(3))
  • Holding Requirements: Nebraska law does not require deposit to be placed in a separate account or interest-bearing account. (§ 76-1484)

Tentunit Requirements for Landlords

  • Use a signed move-in condition checklist with date-stamped photographs at the start of tenancy.
  • Clearly disclose in listing and lease: deposit amount, conditions for deduction, timeframe for return, forwarding address requirement.
  • Maintain full documentation: deposit receipt (date, amount), forwarding address (tenant provided), itemized deduction list (if any), refund date and proof of delivery.
  • Ensure deposit is processed in compliance: within 14 days after termination either refund or itemize deductions and send balance.
  • Avoid mislabeling fees as “non-refundable deposit” unless lawful and clearly disclosed; ensure transparency in listing and lease.
  • If property ownership changes mid-tenancy, ensure deposit transfer is properly documented and notify tenant (best practice).

9. Student-Housing & Young-Professional Specific Standards

Because Tentunit focuses on student/young-professional rentals, landlords must adopt additional elevated standards:

  • In listing clearly disclose: proximity to campus/university, parking or public transport policy/costs, sub-letting policy or early-termination/release policy, lease renewal/non-renewal process, roommate/shared-housing rules if applicable.
  • Provide digital onboarding materials tailored for young renters: move-in guide, roommate/house-share rules (if applicable), utility-setup instructions, emergency contact information.
  • Avoid practices that correlate with predatory leasing for students/young professionals (e.g., excessive non-refundable fees, misleading “student-only” claims, forced guarantor/co-signer without alternative).
  • Maintain communication channels suited to younger renters (mobile/app messaging, after‐hours support, clear roommate/house-rule expectations).
  • Ensure house rules (cleaning schedules, guest/party policy, roommate obligations) are clearly disclosed in listing & lease, align with statutory rights, enforced fairly and uniformly.

10. Documentation, Audit, Compliance & Platform Enforcement

Landlords must operate at institutional-level compliance and document key processes; Tentunit retains enforcement rights.

Record-Keeping Requirements

Landlords must maintain, per unit/tenancy:

  • Listing metadata: upload date, photo version history, fee schedule changes, availability updates.
  • Screening/application logs: inquiry date/time, screening criteria used, applications received, approvals/denials, communications.
  • Executed lease file: signed lease (digital or paper), amendments/renewals, disclosures, guarantor/co-signer documentation if applicable.
  • Maintenance/repair logs: tenant request date/time, vendor/work-order number, completion date/time, tenant notifications, before/after photos.
  • Entry/inspection logs: notice sent date/time, actual entry date/time, purpose of entry, persons present, condition observed, photos when applicable.
  • Security deposit records: deposit amount & date collected, forwarding address documentation, itemised deduction statements (if any), refund date and proof of delivery.
  • Tenant-landlord communications: listing inquiries, application status updates, maintenance scheduling, entries/inspection notices, lease renewal/termination communications via Tentunit portal or other documented channel.

Enforcement Rights of Tentunit

Tentunit may:

  • Audit landlord compliance (listing practices, lease documentation, maintenance/entry logs, deposit handling) at any time without prior notice.
  • Suspend or remove listings for material or repeated non-compliance with this Statement, Tentunit policies or Nebraska/federal law.
  • Freeze or withhold landlord payouts related to units flagged for unresolved compliance issues (e.g., deposit disputes, habitability complaints).
  • Terminate landlord’s platform account permanently for serious or repeated violations.
  • Report non-compliance or unlawful conduct to relevant regulatory agencies (e.g., Nebraska Attorney General, Nebraska Real Estate Commission) if applicable.
  • Seek recovery of damages, attorney’s fees and enforcement costs incurred by Tentunit as a result of landlord non-compliance.

11. Indemnification

Landlord shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Tentunit, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents and contractors from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or in connection with the Landlord’s actions or omissions, including (but not limited to):

  • Landlord’s breach of this Statement or any Tentunit policy;
  • Landlord’s violation of any federal, state or local housing/tenant-landlord laws/regulations;
  • Landlord’s mis-representation of listing, unit condition, availability, terms or fees;
  • Tenant claims or disputes arising from landlord’s acts or omissions;
  • Platform investigations or regulatory enforcement triggered by landlord non-compliance.

12. Governing Law & Reference Statutes

Nebraska Statutes & Reference Materials

Federal Law Foundations

  • Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.)
  • Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (for dwellings built before 1978)
  • Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) for eligible tenants