Complaint line

The Colorado Attorney General's Civil Rights Unit enforces state housing laws for renters. It covers rules on security deposits, rental applications, rent increase notices, and keeping a home fit to live in. Call the Department of Law at 720-508-6000, or use the file a complaint option on the Attorney General's website.

Connecticut's Banking Commissioner (a state office) can help if your landlord misses the deadline to return your deposit. This office cannot help if your landlord already gave you written notice with a good faith claim that you owe for damage. Otherwise, it can look into your case and tell your landlord to follow the law.

If your landlord will not return your security deposit, you can file a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). You can also sue in court instead. Visit fdacs.gov to file with FDACS.

The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission receives and investigates complaints of discrimination (unfair treatment) in housing. Call (808) 586-8636.

The Idaho Attorney General's Office does not enforce Idaho's landlord-tenant laws. Tenants and landlords enforce these laws through private actions.

The Illinois Attorney General Consumer Fraud Bureau takes complaints about scams and unfair business practices. It says it has no authority over most landlord and tenant disputes. It can still point you to legal aid and publishes a landlord and tenant rights fact sheet. Call 1-800-386-5438 (Chicago), 1-800-243-0618 (Springfield), 1-800-243-0607 (Carbondale), or 1-866-310-8398 in Spanish.

The Kansas Human Rights Commission takes housing discrimination complaints. Kansas law covers race, religion, color, sex, disability, ancestry, national origin, and familial status (having children living with you). It also covers retaliation (being treated unfairly for making a complaint). You must file within 1 year of the last time it happened. Call 785-296-3206 to start a complaint.

Call the Los Angeles Housing Department at 1-866-557-7368 if the landlord skips the rules or keeps bothering you. You can also file a complaint online.

Call the Los Angeles Housing Department at 1-866-557-7368 if you think your eviction is illegal. You can also file a complaint online and an investigator will review it.

The Louisiana Attorney General's office enforces the Louisiana Equal Housing Opportunity Act. The law bans discrimination (unfair treatment because of who you are) in housing. If this happens to you, report it through the office's Online Fair Housing Complaint Form. Staff review each complaint. If they find a possible violation, they help you file an official housing discrimination complaint.

The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights takes complaints about housing discrimination anywhere in Maryland. State law bans this kind of discrimination to protect people's health, safety, and well-being in their homes. Call 410-767-8600, or start a complaint on its website.

Attorney General's Consumer Hotline. If you and your landlord both agree, the Attorney General's office offers a dispute resolution service. It tries to solve the problem before it becomes an eviction. You can also file a complaint online. Call the Consumer Hotline at 617-727-8400.

Michigan's Attorney General has a Consumer Protection team. It takes complaints about businesses, scams, and other money problems. It handles about 10,000 complaints a year. Its website has a landlord and tenant page. Call 877-765-8388 to make a complaint or ask a question.

The Michigan Department of Civil Rights looks into complaints that someone was treated unfairly because of who they are, including in housing. File a complaint online or call 1-800-482-3604.

The Minnesota Attorney General's Office takes complaints about housing problems. Call (651) 296-3353 in the Twin Cities area, or (800) 657-3787 outside the Twin Cities.

The Nevada Equal Rights Commission takes housing discrimination (being treated unfairly because of who you are) complaints. You must file within 1 year of the problem. Filing is free and you do not need a lawyer. File online at detr.nv.gov/nerc, or call (702) 486-7161 in Las Vegas or (775) 823-6690 in Reno.

New Jersey's Bureau of Housing Inspection inspects hotels and buildings with 3 or more rental units for health and safety problems. Call 609-633-6229 to reach the bureau.

No state agency in New Jersey handles security deposit disputes. You must go to court to settle them.

The NYS Department of Public Service takes service and billing complaints about gas, electric, water, phone, and cable TV companies. Call the Helpline at 1-800-342-3377.

The New York State Attorney General takes complaints from renters. It handles harassment (repeated pressure to make you move out), security deposits, illegal evictions, predatory landlords (landlords who use unfair tactics), and discrimination. Any renter in the state can file. File online at ag.ny.gov, or call 1-800-771-7755.

The Office of Rent Administration (ORA) at NYS Homes and Community Renewal runs rent control and rent stabilization (rent-regulated apartments). It investigates complaints about being charged too much rent, maintenance problems, and lease renewals. You can ask it for your apartment's rent history, or whether it is rent stabilized (covered by that program). Rent control still applies in some places, including New York City. Some cities, towns, and villages in Nassau, Rockland, Westchester, and Ulster Counties have adopted rent stabilization (limits rent increases). Call 1 (833) 499-0343.

If your apartment is rent stabilized (limits how much your rent can rise) or rent controlled, you can report harassment (unwanted, hostile treatment). Report it to the state housing agency, DHCR, using form RA-60H. If DHCR finds harassment, it can fine the owner. Any tenant can also bring a harassment case in housing court.

If your landlord keeps your deposit unfairly, you can file a free complaint with the New York Attorney General. The Attorney General's office can help you get your deposit back. You can also sue in small claims court.

The North Carolina Human Relations Commission handles fair housing in North Carolina. The State Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to treat people unfairly in housing because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability. The Act also protects families with children. File a housing discrimination complaint online, or email hrc.complaints@oah.nc.gov.

The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office of Civil Rights Enforcement takes housing discrimination complaints. You must file within 1 year of the last act of housing discrimination. Reach the Oklahoma City office at 405-521-3921.

The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) enforces fair housing laws that protect you from discrimination when renting, buying, or living in a home. Call 971-245-3844 or email boli_help@boli.oregon.gov if something feels wrong or the law is not being followed. Staff are available 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, and Spanish is spoken. You can also file a complaint on BOLI's website.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) watches over the companies that supply utilities (electric, natural gas, water). The PUC handles problems with bills, service quality, and payment arrangements. A payment arrangement is a plan to pay what you owe over time. First contact the utility company about the problem. If the company does not fix it, then file an informal complaint with the PUC online, or call 1-800-692-7380.

If the entries continue after your written notice, first try to file a complaint with your local housing authority to get quick action. If nothing happens, you can file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection. File online at attorneygeneral.gov, or call 800-441-2555. The Bureau contacts the landlord and tries to work out the problem.

Chapter 9-804 of the Philadelphia Code describes unfair rental practices by landlords. If you believe you have experienced one, you can file a complaint with the Fair Housing Commission. The Commission accepts walk-ins Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 601 Walnut St., Suite 300 South. You can also call (215) 686-4670 or email FairHousingComm@phila.gov.

The Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) inspects existing buildings for code problems, including the property maintenance code. To complain, use 311's online form or call 311. From outside Philadelphia, call (215) 686-8686. For a home without heat from October 1 to April 15, L&I's response time is 3 business days. If an inspector finds a violation, the owner may have up to 35 days to fix it.

If your landlord enters your home against the law or causes another problem, you can complain to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection. You can file online or call the toll-free hotline at 800-441-2555. In most cases, the Bureau's agents act as mediators (people who help both sides reach an agreement). They try to settle the dispute by letter, phone, or personal contact.

You can report your landlord to the Violation Complaint Line at (206) 615-0808 if they do not give your deposit back. Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections can cite landlords who illegally keep deposits.

The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission enforces South Carolina's Fair Housing Law. It offers residents free help if their rights are violated. Call 803-737-7800, or 711 for relay service.

SC Housing hears complaints about problems in your home or apartment building. This is only for buildings it checks on. Email compliancedepartment@schousing.com or call 803-896-9007 or 800-236-3994.

Texas Attorney General Consumer Protection Division publishes a plain-language Renter's Rights page. It covers repairs, security deposits, and utilities (such as water, electric, and gas) being shut off. If your landlord will not return your deposit, you can file a consumer complaint with this office online. The office does not represent you in court. Website: texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection.

The Attorney General's Office offers an informal complaint resolution service for consumer complaints about businesses in Washington. If your landlord raises your rent above the state cap, you may file a complaint with the office. File online or call 1-800-551-4636 (in Washington only) or 206-464-6684. The office sends your complaint to the business and asks for a response within 30 days. It cannot force a business to respond or make a change. It does not handle routine residential landlord-tenant complaints. Call 211 for those.