Your rights are mostly set by your state — here's the shape of them.
Tenant rights and getting repairs doneLandlord-tenant law is state law, so the detail changes at the state line. What's constant: a home must be habitable, and federal law bans discrimination in housing.
Eviction — what a landlord can and can't doA landlord cannot simply change the locks or throw your things out. Eviction is a court process, with written notice first — and 'self-help' eviction is illegal everywhere.
Breaking a lease — what it really costsA 12-month lease is a binding contract, but you're rarely on the hook forever. Many states make the landlord try to re-rent the unit, and some situations let you leave without penalty.