New Mexico's Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act (UORRA, NMSA §47-8) governs almost every residential rental in the state. It's tenant-friendly in several important ways — particularly around repairs and retaliation — but it also requires you to follow written-notice steps to claim those rights. Here's the practical version.
For leases under 12 months, NMSA §47-8-18 caps refundable deposits at one month's rent. For leases of 12 months or more, the cap doesn't apply, but the landlord must pay you annual interest at the passbook rate. Returns are due within 30 days.
For health-and-safety issues, give written notice and the landlord has 7 days to start repairs (or it's a material breach). For non-emergency repairs, the notice is 30 days. After that you may terminate, sue, or use other remedies in §47-8-27.1.
Non-payment requires a 3-day pay-or-quit notice. Lease violations require 7 days to cure. Substantial damage or repeated violations can be a 3-day unconditional quit. Even with notice, the landlord must win in Magistrate or Metro Court before you have to leave.
NMSA §47-8-39 makes any rent increase, eviction, or service reduction within 6 months of a tenant exercising their rights presumptively retaliatory — meaning the landlord has to prove it wasn't retaliation. Damages can include twice the monthly rent plus fees.
Self-help eviction is barred under §47-8-36. If your landlord changes the locks, removes belongings, or cuts off utilities to force you out, you can recover possession and twice the monthly rent plus actual damages.
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