Among real estate investors, Oklahoma is considered one of the most landlord-friendly states in the country.
With no rent controls, a cheap and simple eviction processes and low property taxes, Oklahoma has seen an influx of corporate landlords buying and building properties across the state.
Even under federal programs that dole out property owner tax credits in exchange for a promise to keep rents down, low-income Oklahoma tenants have been pushed out of their homes.
More: Texas father, son buying up properties meant for low-income Oklahoma tenants, then booting them
Tenant rights in Oklahoma
Tenants living in poor conditions or facing eviction have rights, though. The process can be scary and confusing, but some help is available. Here are some of your rights as a renter in Oklahoma.
Five-day rent grace period
When rent is due, landlords must give tenants a written "Notice to Pay or Quit" that gives five days to pay or work out another arrangement.
Only after those five days can the landlord file an eviction in court.
Evicted renters get three days to prep for court
When a landlord files eviction papers with the court, tenants must be notified at least three days before the court date. If that doesn't seem like much time, the Oklahoma Legislature agrees.
A bill to extend the eviction timeline by another five days made it to Gov. Kevin Stitt's desk in 2025, but he vetoed it.
"This bill seeks to expand minimum wait times in eviction proceedings, making the alreadyburdensome and difficult process of obtaining an eviction that much more burdensome. Theexisting procedures already provide adequate due process and notice," Stitt wrote in his veto message.
More: Evictions are on the rise in Oklahoma. Legal counsel may be made available to help
Tenants can hire a lawyer
Evicted tenants who can afford an attorney can fight their case in court, but it can be hard to secure legal representation within that time frame. Nonprofits like Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma have attorneys who can help, but there aren't enough funds to provide free legal services to the thousands of renters who are kicked out of their homes each year.
New data shows that only about 4% of tenants nationwide have legal representation in eviction court, compared to 83% of landlords.
Oklahoma renters can make their own repairs
Issues between a renter and landlord can develop without an eviction. For example, absentee landlords have allowed their properties to fall into disrepair leaving residents to ask the city for help.
Tenants are allowed to make their own repairs at the landlord's expense, but only after meeting certain conditions; the landlord's initial response to the maintenance request must be unsatisfactory and the situation must pose a threat to the tenant's health and safety.
Tenants must give the landlord 14 days to fix the issue
If the landlord fails to address the health-related issue within the specified time frame or promptly, considering emergency conditions, the tenant may proceed with the necessary repairs.
Following the repairs, the tenant must submit an itemized statement to the landlord, justifying the deduction from their rent.
The cost of repairs must be fair, reasonable and not exceed one month's rent.
If the landlord does not comply, tenants can take legal action.
Oklahoma Watch reporter Heather Warlick contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Facing eviction? What to know about Oklahoma's landlord-tenant rights
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