N.M. Stat. Ann. § 47-8-11
Obligation of good faith.
Operative Text
47-8-11. Obligation of good faith. Every duty under the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act and every act which must be performed as a condition precedent to the exercise of a right or remedy under the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act imposes an obligation of good faith in its performance or enforcement. History: 1953 Comp., § 70-7-11, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 38, § 11.
Section 47-8-11 of New Mexico's Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act establishes that every duty and every condition that must be fulfilled before exercising a right or remedy under the Act carries with it an inherent requirement of good faith. This means that neither party to a rental relationship may act in a dishonest, arbitrary, or bad-faith manner when carrying out their obligations or pursuing their legal remedies. The provision functions as a baseline standard of conduct that runs through the entire Act, shaping how all other provisions are interpreted and applied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 47-8-11, property owners and managers are generally expected to act honestly and in a straightforward manner when performing any duty or exercising any right granted by the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act. Compliant operators typically document their actions, communicate transparently with residents, and avoid using procedural steps — such as notices or entry rights — as pretexts for harassment or retaliation. Maintaining consistent, well-documented practices helps demonstrate that actions taken under the Act were carried out in the spirit of good faith that § 47-8-11 requires.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 47-8-11 means that tenants in New Mexico have a right to expect that landlords will act in good faith when performing duties or pursuing remedies under the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act — and tenants hold the same obligation in return. If a landlord appears to be acting in bad faith — for example, using a procedural right as a pretext for retaliation — a tenant may be able to raise a violation of § 47-8-11 as part of a defense or claim in a dispute proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations in New Mexico can help residents understand how the good-faith standard interacts with other provisions of the Act and what options may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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