Name: Lease Risk API: Residential Legal Risk Assessment & Amendmen
Brand: nicheapi-llc-1
SKU: api-nicheapi-llc-1-leaserisk
Availability: InStock
Author: API Market

True Scary Stories

# Lease Risk API

## Overview

The Lease Risk API is a comprehensive reference database for residential lease risk assessment, organized across three actionable dimensions: **what the law says** in each U.S. state (security deposit limits, eviction notice requirements, rent control status, and required disclosures), **what lease clauses are risky** (60 common clauses rated by severity, with plain-language risk summaries), and **how to fix them** (60 ready-to-use amendments with attorney-reviewed legal language). Rather than forcing tenants, legal aid organizations, and proptech developers to parse statutes and case law independently, the Lease Risk API delivers structured, state-aware lease intelligence in a single integration — making it straightforward to build tools that help renters understand what they're signing and negotiate from a position of knowledge.

## Features

*   **3 Dedicated Endpoints**: Access three distinct legal data categories — state jurisdiction rules, rated risk clauses, and recommended lease amendments.
*   **Full-Text Search**: Filter records by keyword across all fields using the `?q=` query parameter.
*   **Pagination Support**: Efficiently retrieve large result sets with `?limit=` and `?offset=` parameters.
*   **Detailed Lookup**: Fetch any individual record directly by its unique ID.
*   **Authoritative Data**: All records are curated from primary legal sources — state statutes, legislative codes, and established landlord-tenant law — not auto-generated. Amendment language has been reviewed for legal accuracy.
*   **High Availability**: A rate limit of 60 requests per minute across all plans.

## Use Cases

*   **Tenant-Facing Lease Review Tools**: Proptech startups and legal aid platforms can use the risk clauses and amendments endpoints to build lease analyzers that flag problematic language, explain the risk in plain terms, and surface ready-to-use counter-language — giving renters actionable leverage before they sign.
*   **Legal Aid & Tenant Rights Organizations**: Nonprofits and public defenders can integrate jurisdiction rules to instantly surface the applicable state law for a client's situation — security deposit limits, notice periods, and rent control protections — reducing intake time and ensuring accuracy.
*   **Property Management & Compliance**: Landlords and property management companies operating across multiple states can automate lease audits against jurisdiction-specific rules to ensure their standard lease templates remain compliant as laws change.
*   **Real Estate & Rental Platforms**: Listing platforms can surface jurisdiction rule data alongside rental listings to give prospective tenants upfront context on local tenant protections before they ever see a lease.
*   **Legal Research & Law School Clinics**: Researchers and clinical programs studying landlord-tenant law can use the structured dataset to compare statutory protections across states, identify enforcement gaps, and track the distribution of high-severity risk clauses in standard residential leases.


## API Documentation

### Base URL

All API requests for the Lease Risk API should be made to the following base URL:

```
'https://prod.api.market/api/v1/nicheapi-llc-1/leaserisk/'
```

### Authentication

Authentication is handled via an API key. You must include your key in the `x-api-market-key` header of every request:

```
x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY
```

Replace `YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY` with your actual API key obtained from API.market.


### Endpoints

#### 1. List Jurisdiction Rules

Retrieve a paginated list of state-level landlord-tenant law rules covering security deposits, eviction notices, rent control, and required disclosures.

**Method**: `GET`
**Endpoint**: `/leaserisk/jurisdiction_rules`

**Parameters**:

| Name     | In    | Description                                               | Type      | Required | Default | Max Value |
| :------- | :---- | :-------------------------------------------------------- | :-------- | :------- | :------ | :-------- |
| `q`      | query | Search query to filter jurisdiction rules by keyword      | `string`  | No       |         |           |
| `limit`  | query | Maximum number of results per page                        | `integer` | No       | `50`    | `1000`    |
| `offset` | query | Number of results to skip for pagination                  | `integer` | No       | `0`     |           |

**Example Request**:

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/nicheapi-llc-1/leaserisk/leaserisk/jurisdiction_rules?q=California&limit=2" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK)**:

```json
[
  {
    "id": "jur_CA",
    "state": "California",
    "state_code": "CA",
    "security_deposit_max": "2 months' rent (unfurnished); 3 months' rent (furnished)",
    "security_deposit_return_days": 21,
    "eviction_notice_nonpayment_days": 3,
    "eviction_notice_lease_violation_days": 3,
    "eviction_notice_no_cause_days": 30,
    "rent_control_status": "Local (varies by city)",
    "rent_control_notes": "Statewide AB 1482 caps annual increases at 5% + CPI for qualifying units. Cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland have additional local ordinances.",
    "late_fee_cap": "Reasonable; courts typically limit to $25–$75",
    "grace_period_days": null,
    "required_disclosures": ["Mold", "Lead paint (pre-1978)", "Bedbug history", "Flood zone", "Death on premises (3 years)", "Methamphetamine contamination"],
    "source_statute": "Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1950.5, 1946, 1946.2; AB 1482 (2019)"
  },
  {
    "id": "jur_NY",
    "state": "New York",
    "state_code": "NY",
    "security_deposit_max": "1 month's rent",
    "security_deposit_return_days": 14,
    "eviction_notice_nonpayment_days": 14,
    "eviction_notice_lease_violation_days": 10,
    "eviction_notice_no_cause_days": 30,
    "rent_control_status": "Local (New York City and select municipalities)",
    "rent_control_notes": "New York City Rent Stabilization covers ~1 million units. 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act significantly expanded tenant protections statewide.",
    "late_fee_cap": "$50 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is less",
    "grace_period_days": 5,
    "required_disclosures": ["Lead paint (pre-1978)", "Mold", "Bedbug history", "Window guards (children under 10)"],
    "source_statute": "N.Y. Real Prop. Law §§ 227-e, 238-a; NYC Admin. Code § 26-511"
  }
]
```

---

#### 2. Get Jurisdiction Rules by ID

Retrieve the landlord-tenant law rules for a single U.S. state by its unique identifier.

**Method**: `GET`
**Endpoint**: `/leaserisk/jurisdiction_rules/{id}`

**Parameters**:

| Name | In   | Description                                   | Type     | Required |
| :--- | :--- | :-------------------------------------------- | :------- | :------- |
| `id` | path | Unique identifier for the jurisdiction record | `string` | Yes      |

**Example Request**:

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/nicheapi-llc-1/leaserisk/leaserisk/jurisdiction_rules/jur_CA" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK)**:

```json
{
  "id": "jur_CA",
  "state": "California",
  "state_code": "CA",
  "security_deposit_max": "2 months' rent (unfurnished); 3 months' rent (furnished)",
  "security_deposit_return_days": 21,
  "eviction_notice_nonpayment_days": 3,
  "eviction_notice_lease_violation_days": 3,
  "eviction_notice_no_cause_days": 30,
  "rent_control_status": "Local (varies by city)",
  "rent_control_notes": "Statewide AB 1482 caps annual increases at 5% + CPI for qualifying units. Cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland have additional local ordinances.",
  "late_fee_cap": "Reasonable; courts typically limit to $25–$75",
  "grace_period_days": null,
  "required_disclosures": ["Mold", "Lead paint (pre-1978)", "Bedbug history", "Flood zone", "Death on premises (3 years)", "Methamphetamine contamination"],
  "source_statute": "Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1950.5, 1946, 1946.2; AB 1482 (2019)"
}
```

---

#### 3. List Risk Clauses

Retrieve a paginated list of the 60 common residential lease clauses rated by risk severity, with plain-language risk summaries and clause category classifications.

**Method**: `GET`
**Endpoint**: `/leaserisk/risk_clauses`

**Parameters**:

| Name     | In    | Description                                          | Type      | Required | Default | Max Value |
| :------- | :---- | :--------------------------------------------------- | :-------- | :------- | :------ | :-------- |
| `q`      | query | Search query to filter risk clauses by keyword       | `string`  | No       |         |           |
| `limit`  | query | Maximum number of results per page                   | `integer` | No       | `50`    | `1000`    |
| `offset` | query | Number of results to skip for pagination             | `integer` | No       | `0`     |           |

**Example Request**:

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/nicheapi-llc-1/leaserisk/leaserisk/risk_clauses?q=entry&limit=1" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK)**:

```json
[
  {
    "id": "clause_14",
    "clause_name": "Unlimited Landlord Entry",
    "clause_category": "Privacy & Access",
    "severity": "High",
    "severity_score": 9,
    "example_language": "Landlord may enter the premises at any time for inspection, repairs, or any other reason deemed necessary.",
    "risk_summary": "Waives your statutory right to advance notice before landlord entry, which is 24–48 hours in most states. Creates exposure to harassment, privacy violations, and potential constructive eviction claims — but those claims are difficult to bring if you've signed away the right.",
    "states_where_clause_is_unenforceable": ["California", "New York", "Washington", "Oregon"],
    "recommended_amendment_id": "amend_14"
  }
]
```

---

#### 4. Get Risk Clause by ID

Retrieve a single risk clause record by its unique identifier.

**Method**: `GET`
**Endpoint**: `/leaserisk/risk_clauses/{id}`

**Parameters**:

| Name | In   | Description                              | Type     | Required |
| :--- | :--- | :--------------------------------------- | :------- | :------- |
| `id` | path | Unique identifier for the risk clause    | `string` | Yes      |

**Example Request**:

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/nicheapi-llc-1/leaserisk/leaserisk/risk_clauses/clause_14" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK)**:

```json
{
  "id": "clause_14",
  "clause_name": "Unlimited Landlord Entry",
  "clause_category": "Privacy & Access",
  "severity": "High",
  "severity_score": 9,
  "example_language": "Landlord may enter the premises at any time for inspection, repairs, or any other reason deemed necessary.",
  "risk_summary": "Waives your statutory right to advance notice before landlord entry, which is 24–48 hours in most states. Creates exposure to harassment, privacy violations, and potential constructive eviction claims — but those claims are difficult to bring if you've signed away the right.",
  "states_where_clause_is_unenforceable": ["California", "New York", "Washington", "Oregon"],
  "recommended_amendment_id": "amend_14"
}
```

---

#### 5. List Recommended Amendments

Retrieve a paginated list of the 60 recommended lease amendments, each with ready-to-use legal language designed to replace or modify a corresponding high-risk clause.

**Method**: `GET`
**Endpoint**: `/leaserisk/recommended_amendments`

**Parameters**:

| Name     | In    | Description                                                | Type      | Required | Default | Max Value |
| :------- | :---- | :--------------------------------------------------------- | :-------- | :------- | :------ | :-------- |
| `q`      | query | Search query to filter recommended amendments by keyword   | `string`  | No       |         |           |
| `limit`  | query | Maximum number of results per page                         | `integer` | No       | `50`    | `1000`    |
| `offset` | query | Number of results to skip for pagination                   | `integer` | No       | `0`     |           |

**Example Request**:

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/nicheapi-llc-1/leaserisk/leaserisk/recommended_amendments?q=entry&limit=1" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK)**:

```json
[
  {
    "id": "amend_14",
    "amendment_name": "Landlord Entry Notice Requirement",
    "addresses_clause_id": "clause_14",
    "addresses_clause_name": "Unlimited Landlord Entry",
    "amendment_language": "Landlord shall provide Tenant with at least twenty-four (24) hours' written notice prior to entering the premises for any non-emergency purpose, including but not limited to inspections, repairs, or showings. Notice may be delivered in person, by phone, or via text or email to the contact information on file. In cases of genuine emergency posing an immediate risk to persons or property, Landlord may enter without prior notice but shall notify Tenant as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.",
    "jurisdiction_applicability": "All states (reflects or exceeds statutory minimum in all U.S. jurisdictions)",
    "negotiation_notes": "This is a straightforward ask in most markets. Frame it as codifying what the law already requires. If the landlord resists, request a 12-hour minimum as a fallback.",
    "replaces_or_supplements": "Replaces"
  }
]
```

---

#### 6. Get Recommended Amendment by ID

Retrieve a single recommended amendment record by its unique identifier.

**Method**: `GET`
**Endpoint**: `/leaserisk/recommended_amendments/{id}`

**Parameters**:

| Name | In   | Description                                    | Type     | Required |
| :--- | :--- | :--------------------------------------------- | :------- | :------- |
| `id` | path | Unique identifier for the recommended amendment | `string` | Yes      |

**Example Request**:

```bash
curl -X GET "https://prod.api.market/api/v1/nicheapi-llc-1/leaserisk/leaserisk/recommended_amendments/amend_14" \
  -H "x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_MARKET_KEY"
```

**Example Response (200 OK)**:

```json
{
  "id": "amend_14",
  "amendment_name": "Landlord Entry Notice Requirement",
  "addresses_clause_id": "clause_14",
  "addresses_clause_name": "Unlimited Landlord Entry",
  "amendment_language": "Landlord shall provide Tenant with at least twenty-four (24) hours' written notice prior to entering the premises for any non-emergency purpose, including but not limited to inspections, repairs, or showings. Notice may be delivered in person, by phone, or via text or email to the contact information on file. In cases of genuine emergency posing an immediate risk to persons or property, Landlord may enter without prior notice but shall notify Tenant as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.",
  "jurisdiction_applicability": "All states (reflects or exceeds statutory minimum in all U.S. jurisdictions)",
  "negotiation_notes": "This is a straightforward ask in most markets. Frame it as codifying what the law already requires. If the landlord resists, request a 12-hour minimum as a fallback.",
  "replaces_or_supplements": "Replaces"
}
```

---

## Status Codes

| Code  | Status                | Description |
| :---- | :-------------------- | :---------- |
| `200` | OK                    | The request succeeded and data has been returned. |
| `400` | Bad Request           | The request contains invalid parameters or a malformed query. Review your request syntax. |
| `401` | Unauthorized          | The `x-api-market-key` header is missing or contains an invalid key. |
| `403` | Forbidden             | Your API key is valid but lacks permission to access this resource. |
| `404` | Not Found             | The requested endpoint or record ID does not exist. Verify the URL path and identifier. |
| `429` | Too Many Requests     | You have exceeded the rate limit of 60 requests per minute. See the Rate Limits section. |
| `500` | Internal Server Error | An unexpected server-side error occurred. Retry the request after a brief delay. |
| `503` | Service Unavailable   | The server is temporarily unavailable due to maintenance or high load. Retry after a short delay. |

---

## Rate Limits

The Lease Risk API enforces a limit of **60 requests per minute** across all plans. If exceeded, the API returns a `429 Too Many Requests` response. To handle this gracefully, implement client-side throttling and exponential backoff in your application. Where provided, the `Retry-After` header in the 429 response will indicate how long to wait before retrying.

---

## FAQ

*   **What geographic scope does the jurisdiction rules endpoint cover?**
    The endpoint covers all 50 U.S. states. Each record reflects state-level statutory law. Where rent control or other tenant protections vary significantly by city (as in California and New York), the record includes notes on local ordinance variation.

*   **What does `severity_score` mean on risk clause records?**
    Severity scores range from 1 to 10 and reflect the potential legal and financial harm a clause could cause a tenant if enforced. Scores account for how broadly enforceable the clause is, how commonly it appears in standard leases, and how significantly it deviates from statutory tenant protections.

*   **Are the amendment texts legally binding if I add them to my lease?**
    The amendment language is designed to be legally precise and has been reviewed for accuracy, but it should be treated as a strong starting point rather than a substitute for jurisdiction-specific legal advice. Tenants in complex situations or high-stakes leases are encouraged to consult a licensed attorney.

*   **How are risk clauses and recommended amendments linked?**
    Each risk clause record includes a `recommended_amendment_id` field that points to the corresponding amendment. You can resolve the full amendment record by passing that ID to the `/leaserisk/recommended_amendments/{id}` endpoint.

*   **Does the API cover commercial leases?**
    No. The Lease Risk API is focused exclusively on residential lease agreements. Commercial lease law differs substantially by jurisdiction and is outside the current scope of the dataset.

*   **How do I authenticate?**
    Include your API key in the `x-api-market-key` request header on every call. See the Authentication section above for details.

*   **What is the rate limit?**
    60 requests per minute across all plans. Exceeding this returns a `429` response.

---

## Contact

For questions or support, please reach out via the chat on the bottom right of the page or email **21truescarystories@gmail.com**.

Identify and mitigate residential lease risks. Access state-specific landlord-tenant laws, analyze 60 common risky clauses, and generate attorney-reviewed amend