Kentucky Landlord Tenant Law

Guide to Kentucky Landlord Tenant Law

If you are a landlord or a tenant in Kentucky, understanding KY landlord tenant law can help you protect your rights. Renters and property owners have clearly assigned rights and responsibilities according to Kentucky landlord tenant law. This guide will teach you about some of your responsibilities under KY landlord tenant law and what you can do if your landlord or tenant fails to uphold his or her end of the lease agreement.

Landlord Responsibilities

All landlords are required by Kentucky landlord tenant law to provide a habitable dwelling for tenants. Habitability requirements according to KY landlord tenant law include safe, clean hot and cold drinking water, functional plumbing and sanitary systems, working electricity, and functional heating systems. All units must also be in good repair, with functional appliances, in order to meet Kentucky landlord tenant law habitability standards.

Landlords must also allow their tenants “quiet enjoyment” of their property according to KY landlord tenant law. If a landlord wishes to enter a tenant's dwelling, they must provide reasonable notice first. Kentucky landlord tenant law only allows a landlord to enter a tenant's residence for inspections or to make needed repairs. If an emergency repair is needed and giving standard notice would result in additional damage to the property or danger to tenants, KY landlord tenant law does allow a landlord to make the emergency repair without notice.

Landlords are also required by Kentucky landlord tenant law to abide by all the terms of the lease agreement they have signed with a tenant. If a landlord gives a tenant additional rights in a lease (for instance, if a lease provides for more notice or a longer grace period for late rent than is required by law), the lease agreement supercedes KY landlord tenant law.

Tenant Responsibilities

Tenants have several responsibilities according to Kentucky landlord tenant law. Perhaps the most obvious of these is the responsibility to pay rent on time. If you fail to pay your rent by the date required in your lease, your landlord may be able to initiate eviction proceedings. You are also required to keep your dwelling clean and free from safety or health hazards, and to abide by all the terms of your lease.

Evictions

Evictions are only allowed by KY landlord tenant law under certain limited circumstances. For example, Kentucky landlord tenant law allows landlords to initiate eviction proceedings if a tenant has broken terms of a lease, damaged property, conducted illegal activity on the property, or failed to pay rent on time. Landlords may also evict tenants who have stayed beyond the terms of their lease agreement (a practice called “holding over”).

No landlord is allowed by KY landlord tenant law to use “self help methods” to evict a tenant. This means that if your landlord has attempted to evict you by shutting off your utilities, changing your locks, or putting your belongings outside, he or she has violated Kentucky landlord tenant law and you may be able to seek damages in small claims court.