Nebraska landlord-tenant law FAQ
39 answers to common Nebraska landlord questions. Every answer is a verified fact with its official source and last-checked date.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Nebraska?
No more than one month's periodic rent, plus a pet deposit of up to one-fourth of one month's rent.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(1) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full security deposit limit page
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Nebraska?
Within 14 days after the tenancy ends.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(2) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full deposit return deadline page
How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering a rental in Nebraska?
At least 24 hours' written notice stating the purpose and the expected time window, except in an emergency.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1423 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full notice to enter page
How much notice does a landlord need to give to raise the rent in Nebraska?
Nebraska's landlord-tenant law (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), read in full on 2026-10-15) sets no notice period for rent increases; the lease terms control.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full rent increase notice page
Can a landlord charge a late fee in Nebraska, and how much?
Nebraska's landlord-tenant law (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), read in full on 2026-10-15) sets no late-fee cap; the lease terms control.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full late fees page
What notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Nebraska?
7 calendar days' written notice to pay or the landlord may terminate the rental agreement.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431(2) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full eviction notice (nonpayment) page
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Nebraska?
Either party may end a month-to-month tenancy with written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date named in the notice (7 days for week-to-week).
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1437 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full ending a month-to-month tenancy page
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Nebraska?
Nebraska's landlord-tenant law (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), read in full on 2026-10-15) sets no requirement to pay interest on security deposits; the lease terms control.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full interest on deposits page
Is a move-in or move-out inspection checklist required in Nebraska?
Nebraska's landlord-tenant law (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), read in full on 2026-10-15) sets no move-in or move-out inspection or checklist requirement; the lease terms control.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full move-in/move-out checklist page
Is landlord retaliation illegal in Nebraska?
Yes. A landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or bring or threaten an eviction because the tenant complained to a code-enforcement agency about a health and safety violation or joined a tenants' union. Exceptions: tenant-caused violations, rent default, or code compliance requiring major work.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full retaliation protections page
Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in Nebraska?
If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, or willfully cuts electric, gas, water or other essential services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease. In either case the tenant may recover 3 months' rent as liquidated damages plus attorney's fees.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1430 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full lockouts and utility shutoffs page
What can a tenant do if the landlord won't make repairs in Nebraska?
Material noncompliance affecting health and safety: written notice that the lease ends in 30+ days unless the breach is fixed within 14 days, plus damages or an injunction. If the landlord fails to supply heat, water, hot water or essential services, the tenant may buy them and deduct the cost, recover reduced rental value, or get substitute housing and pay no rent meanwhile.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1425, 76-1427 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full repairs and habitability remedies page
What disclosures must a landlord give tenants in Nebraska?
At or before the start of the tenancy, the landlord must disclose in writing the name and address of the manager and of the owner (or the owner's agent for service of process and notices), and keep this current.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1417 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full required lease disclosures page
What can a landlord do with property a tenant leaves behind in Nebraska?
If the tenant abandons the unit, the landlord takes possession and must make reasonable efforts to re-rent. Absence without notice for one full rental period or 30 days, whichever is less, is abandonment. Disposition of personal property left behind is not addressed in the URLTA. The URLTA does give a deceased tenant's authorized person 20 days to claim property (§ 76-1414).
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1432, 76-1414 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full abandoned property page
Can a tenant break a lease early for domestic violence or military service in Nebraska?
Nebraska's URLTA contains no military or other general early-termination right (full act read). It does provide domestic-violence protections (§§ 76-1431.01 to .04). Federal SCRA rights still apply.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full early termination (dv/military) page
Is there a grace period before a late fee can be charged in Nebraska?
Nebraska's URLTA sets no late-fee grace period or late-fee cap (full act read).
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full late fee grace period page
How does the eviction court process work in Nebraska?
The summons states the trial date and must be served within 3 days of issuance and returned within 5 days, excluding nonjudicial days.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1442 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full eviction court process & timeline page
Can a tenant fix something and deduct it from rent in Nebraska?
If the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply heat, running water, hot water or essential services, the tenant may give written notice and buy reasonable amounts of them during the outage and deduct the actual, reasonable cost from rent (or get damages or substitute housing instead).
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1427 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full repair and deduct page
What happens if a tenant stays after the lease ends in Nebraska?
If a tenant stays without consent after the lease ends, the landlord may sue for possession. For a willful, bad-faith holdover, the landlord may also recover the greater of up to 3 months' rent or three times actual damages, plus attorney fees.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1437(3) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full holdover tenants page
What happens to the lease when a tenant dies in Nebraska?
A tenant may name a person authorized to retrieve their belongings if they die. The landlord must try to contact that person within 10 days of the death. The person then has 20 days to say they'll claim the property and 20 more days to remove it.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1414 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full death of a tenant page
How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Nebraska?
A search of the full text of the Nebraska URLTA (§§ 76-1401 to 76-1449) found no application-fee limit.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (searched in full) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full application fees & screening page
Does a landlord have to give notice before not renewing a lease in Nebraska?
A search of the full text of §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 found no notice requirement for ending a fixed-term lease at its end. The notice rules in § 76-1437 cover week-to-week (7 days) and month-to-month (30 days) tenancies.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (searched in full); § 76-1437 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full lease renewal / non-renewal notice page
Can a tenant sublet an apartment in Nebraska?
A search of the full text of the Nebraska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (§§ 76-1401 to 76-1449) found no rule on subletting or assignment. The lease controls.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (searched in full) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full subletting & assignment page
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 or other source of income in Nebraska?
Nebraska's fair housing section protects race, color, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, sex, and military or veteran status. Source of income is not on the list. Check local ordinances.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-318 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full source of income discrimination page
Can a tenant withhold rent for repairs in Nebraska?
A search of the full text of the Nebraska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (§§ 76-1401 to 76-1449) found no rent withholding or rent escrow procedure. Tenant remedies for landlord noncompliance are termination, damages and, for essential services, the procure-and-deduct remedy in § 76-1427.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (searched in full) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full rent withholding / escrow page
What is the deposit bank holding / separate account rule in Nebraska?
A search of the full text of the Nebraska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (§§ 76-1401 to 76-1449) found no requirement to keep security deposits in a separate or trust account. The deposit rules are in § 76-1416.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (searched in full) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full deposit bank holding / separate account page
Does a landlord have to provide smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in Nebraska?
In rental property, the owner (or agent) must supply, install, maintain and test smoke detectors. A tenant who stays a month or more must test the detector per the manufacturer's instructions, replace batteries and tell the owner in writing about any defect. Batteries must work at move-in, and the owner must give testing instructions and fix reported defects.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-5,144 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full smoke & co detectors page
What is the eviction notices for other grounds (lease violation, no-fault) rule in Nebraska?
For a material lease violation or a health-and-safety violation of tenant duties, the landlord's written notice must state the lease ends at least 30 days after receipt unless the breach is fixed within 14 days. If the same violation recurs within six months, the landlord may end the lease on at least 14 days' written notice.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431(1) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full eviction notices for other grounds (lease violation, no-fault) page
What is the right to cure / redeem rule in Nebraska?
If a lease violation can be fixed by repairs, paying damages or otherwise, and the tenant fixes it before the date in the landlord's 30-day notice (the notice gives 14 days to remedy), the lease does not end. A repeat of substantially the same violation within six months can be ended on 14 days' notice without a cure right.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431(1) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full right to cure / redeem page
What is the pet deposits/fees & service/esa animals rule in Nebraska?
In addition to the one-month deposit cap, a landlord may take a pet deposit of up to one-fourth of one month's rent.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416(1) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full pet deposits/fees & service/esa animals page
What is the eviction record sealing rule in Nebraska?
A search of the full text of Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449, which includes the state's residential eviction procedure, found no provision for sealing or expunging eviction records. Court rules, which this site has not reviewed, may still allow it.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (searched in full) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full eviction record sealing page
What is the tenant relocation assistance rule in Nebraska?
A search of the full text of Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 found no requirement for landlords to pay tenants relocation assistance. Government relocation programs, such as those for public projects, are in other laws not reviewed here.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (searched in full) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full tenant relocation assistance page
What is the rent receipts, payment methods & cash rule in Nebraska?
A search of the full text of Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 found no rule requiring rent receipts, requiring or banning any payment method, or limiting payment fees. Unless otherwise agreed, rent is due at the time and place the parties agreed.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (searched in full) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full rent receipts, payment methods & cash page
What is the condo conversion protections rule in Nebraska?
Residential tenants of a conversion building must get notice and the public offering statement at least 60 days before they must vacate, and the tenancy terms can't change during that period. Without proper notice, the tenant has a defense to an eviction for possession.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-886 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full condo conversion protections page
What is the manufactured / mobile home parks rule in Nebraska?
Under the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Act, a mobile home space tenant must get written notice of any rent increase at least 60 days before it takes effect. Code text: "Each tenant shall be notified in writing of any rent increase by actual notice or by United States mail at least sixty days prior to the effective date of the increase."
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1490 · last checked 2026-10-16 · Full manufactured / mobile home parks page
What is the military lease termination (federal scra, all states) rule in Nebraska?
Federal law that applies in every state: under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, a tenant may end a residential lease after entering military service, or after getting permanent-change-of-station orders or deployment orders of at least 90 days, by delivering written notice and a copy of the orders to the landlord. For a lease with monthly rent, termination takes effect 30 days after the next rent due date following delivery of the notice. Any state-specific rule on this page also applies. Code text: "The lessee on a lease described in subsection (b) may, at the lessee's option, terminate the lease at any time after."
Verified Source: 50 U.S.C. § 3955 (federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) · last checked 2026-10-16 · Full military lease termination (federal scra, all states) page
What is the rental / transient occupancy tax rule in Nebraska?
Nebraska adds a 1% state lodging sales tax on hotel occupancy charges, on top of ordinary sales tax; proceeds go to the State Visitors Promotion Cash Fund. Statute text: "There is hereby imposed an additional sales tax of one percent upon the total consideration charged for occupancy of any space furnished by any hotel in this state" (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-3715).
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-3715 · last checked 2026-10-16 · Full rental / transient occupancy tax page
What is the guest & occupancy limits rule in Nebraska?
The state landlord-tenant statute (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), read in full on 2026-10-16) has no provision on guest stays or occupancy limits. Local ordinances or other state or federal laws may still apply.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) · last checked 2026-10-16 · Full guest & occupancy limits page
Can a landlord deny a tenant for criminal or credit history in Nebraska?
Nebraska's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449, read in full on 2026-10-16) sets no rules on screening applicants' criminal or credit history; federal fair-housing and FCRA rules still apply.
Verified Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449 · last checked 2026-10-16 · Full criminal & credit history rules page
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