Free Nebraska Lease & Rental Agreement

Last updated September 27, 2026

Written by LawLease Editorial

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Nebraska Residential Lease Agreement

A Nebraska residential lease (also called a Nebraska rental agreement) sets the rent, term and house rules for a home rental. A Nebraska residential lease agreement is governed by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§76-1401 to 76-1449. Nebraska is tighter than most states on the numbers that matter: deposits are capped at one month’s rent, refunds are due in 14 days, entry requires 24 hours’ written notice, and a tenant gets 7 days to pay overdue rent.

Nebraska landlord–tenant law at a glance

Nebraska residential lease law summary
Security deposit limit	1 month’s rent, plus a pet deposit of up to ¼ month’s rentNeb. Rev. Stat. §76-1416(1)
Deposit return	14 days after the tenancy ends, with a written itemizationNeb. Rev. Stat. §76-1416(2)
Late fees	No statutory cap; set by the lease
Rent-increase notice	No specific statute; a month-to-month change needs the 30-day termination noticeNeb. Rev. Stat. §76-1437(2)
Landlord entry	24 hours’ written notice stating the purpose and time windowNeb. Rev. Stat. §76-1423(3)
Month-to-month termination	30 days’ written notice before a rental date (7 days for week-to-week)Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1437
Nonpayment notice	7 calendar days after written noticeNeb. Rev. Stat. §76-1431(2)
Rent control	Local rent control prohibited since 2025Neb. Rev. Stat. §13-331

Security deposits in Nebraska

A Nebraska landlord may not demand or receive security, however it is labeled, of more than one month’s periodic rent. The one exception is a separate pet deposit of up to one-fourth of a month’s rent where appropriate (§76-1416(1)). Housing agencies under the Nebraska Housing Agency Act are exempt from the cap.

Deductions — At the end of the tenancy the deposit and any prepaid rent may be applied to unpaid rent and to damages caused by the tenant’s noncompliance with the lease or the tenant’s statutory duties (§76-1416(2)).
14-day return — The balance and a written itemization must be delivered or mailed within 14 days after the date the tenancy ends (§76-1416(2)).
No forwarding address — If the tenant gives no address, the landlord mails the balance and itemization first-class to the last known address; money returned undeliverable or unclaimed for a year goes to the State Treasurer as unclaimed property (§76-1416(2)).
Penalty — A landlord who misses the rules owes the money due plus court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. If the failure was willful and not in good faith, the tenant may also recover liquidated damages equal to one month’s rent or twice the deposit, whichever is less (§76-1416(3)).
New owners are bound — Whoever holds the landlord’s interest when the tenancy ends is responsible for the deposit (§76-1416(5)).

Rent, late fees & rent increases

Nebraska has no statute capping residential late fees and no mandatory grace period. A late fee is enforceable because the lease provides for it; the Act doesn’t set a number.

Rent increases — No Nebraska statute sets a separate rent-increase notice period. Rent is locked for a fixed-term lease; for a month-to-month tenancy an increase is a change of terms, so the 30-day termination notice under §76-1437(2) is the practical minimum.
Rent control — LB 266, signed April 7, 2025, bars cities, villages and counties from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that imposes rent control on private property. Voluntary, contractual rent-restriction programs and affordable-housing ordinances using land-use or inclusionary-housing requirements are excepted (§13-331).
Electronic notices — Notices and documents under the Act may be delivered electronically to an email address — or posted online with separate notice — where the tenant or landlord has consented (§76-1413, as amended by LB 185 in 2025).

Landlord entry & access

A Nebraska tenant may not unreasonably withhold consent for the landlord to inspect, repair, supply services or show the unit. Except in an emergency or where it is impracticable, the landlord must give at least 24 hours’ written notice, delivered to each individual unit, stating the intended purpose and a reasonable period during which the landlord expects to enter — and may enter only at reasonable times (§76-1423(3), as amended in 2021). A phone call or text alone doesn’t satisfy the rule.

The landlord may enter without consent in an emergency, but may not abuse the right of access or use it to harass the tenant. Otherwise, entry requires a court order or an abandoned or surrendered unit (§76-1423(2)–(4)).

Ending a Nebraska tenancy

Notice to end a Nebraska periodic tenancy (Neb. Rev. Stat. §76-1437)
Week-to-week	At least 7 days before the termination date
Month-to-month	At least 30 days before the periodic rental date named in the notice

Nonpayment — If rent is unpaid when due, the landlord may terminate if the tenant doesn’t pay within 7 calendar days after written notice of nonpayment and of the landlord’s intent to terminate (§76-1431(2)).
Material noncompliance — Written notice that the agreement ends at least 30 days after receipt unless the breach is remedied within 14 days; a cured breach doesn’t end the tenancy. A repeat of the same breach within 6 months allows termination on 14 days’ written notice (§76-1431(1)).
Violent or drug crime — For violent criminal activity, illegal sale of controlled substances, or other activity threatening health or safety on the premises, the landlord may sue for possession after 5 days’ written notice with no right to cure (§76-1431(4)).
Holdover — A willful, bad-faith holdover exposes the tenant to up to three months’ rent or three times actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney’s fees (§76-1437(3)).

Required disclosures in Nebraska

Beyond these, the Act itself prescribes few other lease disclosures.

Owner & manager — At or before move-in, the landlord must disclose in writing the name and address of the property manager and of an owner or agent authorized to accept service of process and notices. A person who fails to do so becomes the owner’s agent for those purposes (§76-1417).
Lead-based paint — Federal law requires the lead warning, EPA pamphlet and known-hazard disclosure for housing built before 1978 (42 U.S.C. §4852d).
Pet deposit — If you charge a pet deposit, state it separately — it’s the only amount allowed above the one-month cap, and it’s limited to a quarter of a month’s rent (§76-1416(1)).

Habitability & repairs

A Nebraska landlord must substantially comply with applicable minimum housing codes, make repairs needed to keep the premises fit and habitable, keep common areas clean and safe, maintain supplied electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning facilities, provide garbage receptacles and removal, and supply running water, reasonable hot water and reasonable heat (§76-1419(1)). In a single-family home the tenant may take on some of these duties, but only in a good-faith written agreement for consideration (§76-1419(2)).

If a material breach isn’t remedied within 14 days of the tenant’s written notice, the rental agreement ends on a date at least 30 days after the notice (§76-1425(1)). 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 obtain substitute housing and stop paying rent for that period (§76-1427).

Tenant protections you can’t waive

Void lease terms — A lease can’t make the tenant waive rights under the Act, confess judgment, pay either party’s attorney’s fees, or excuse the landlord’s active negligence. Such terms are unenforceable, and a landlord who knowingly uses them owes actual damages and attorney’s fees (§76-1415).
No retaliation — A landlord can’t raise rent, cut services or sue for possession because the tenant complained to a code agency or joined a tenants’ union (§76-1439), subject to narrow exceptions such as unpaid rent.
Deposit rules — The one-month cap, 14-day return and liquidated-damages penalty apply no matter what the lease says (§76-1416).
Written entry notice — The 24-hour written, purpose-stated notice can’t be replaced by a verbal heads-up (§76-1423).

Nebraska lease agreement FAQs

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Nebraska?

No more than one month’s rent. A landlord may also take a separate pet deposit of up to one-fourth of a month’s rent where appropriate (§76-1416(1)).

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Nebraska?

Fourteen days after the tenancy ends, with a written itemization of any deductions. A willful, bad-faith failure can cost the landlord liquidated damages of one month’s rent or twice the deposit, whichever is less, plus attorney’s fees (§76-1416).

How much notice does a Nebraska landlord need to give before entering?

At least 24 hours’ written notice, delivered to the unit and stating the purpose and a reasonable window for entry, except in an emergency or where impracticable. Entry must be at reasonable times (§76-1423).

How much notice to end a month-to-month lease in Nebraska?

Written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date named in the notice. Week-to-week tenancies need 7 days (§76-1437).

How long does a tenant have to pay overdue rent in Nebraska?

Seven calendar days after the landlord’s written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate. If rent isn’t paid in that time, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement (§76-1431(2)).

Can a Nebraska lease require the tenant to pay attorney’s fees?

No. The Act bars any lease term under which the tenant agrees to pay the landlord’s or the tenant’s attorney’s fees; such a clause is unenforceable, and knowingly using one exposes the landlord to damages and fees (§76-1415).

Does Nebraska have rent control or a late-fee cap?

Neither. Since LB 266 (2025), local governments can’t impose rent control (§13-331), and Nebraska has no statutory late-fee cap — the lease sets the fee.

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