Kentucky Rental Property Laws

Chapter 383 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) contains the text to a number of the state's laws dealing with the relationships and responsibilities of tenants and property managers. Kentucky also has a fair housing law that seeks to protect the civil rights of tenants in private and public housing. With the two sources combined, Kentucky has dozens of laws and regulations regarding rental property.

Tenant Responsibilities

Under regulations as mandated in KRS 383.605 Tenant's Maintenance Obligations, a tenant is required to maintain rental property in a safe and clean condition and specifically list regular waste disposal. Kentucky law mandates that a tenant must not deliberately damage the rental property or allow anyone visiting to do so. Tenants assume responsibility for guests on the property, including ensuring they do not disturb neighbors. KRS 383.665 states that should a tenant damage a rental property and fails to repair the property, the property manager is instructed to send written notice. If the tenant still fails to fix the problem, the property manager can enter the property, see that the work is completed and bill the tenant for the cost.

Owner's Responsibilities

Pursuant to Kentucky law as stated in KRS 383.595, a manager of a rental property must follow all local codes to maintain a safe and healthy place of residence for the tenants. Property owners are required to maintain in good working order heating, cooling, plumbing and electricity fixtures and sources. This section of Kentucky law stipulates that the tenant and property owner may agree in writing as part of the rental agreement that the tenant will perform any or all of the duties prescribed as the property owner's responsibilities, in which case this law applies to the tenant.

Attorney General's Guidance

The Kentucky Attorney General's office clearly states that a lease between a property owner and a tenant is a binding legal document. The Attorney General advises prospective tenants to read a lease agreement carefully and to know fully what conditions apply before signing the rental contract. Prospective renters are also encouraged to inspect the property with the property manager prior to lease signing.

Nondiscrimination

The Kentucky Fair Housing Act, much like the federal regulations, protects renters from discrimination in Kentucky's housing market. The law makes it illegal for a rental property owner or manager to refuse to provide equal access to available rentals based on a number of factors. Race, color, sex, national origin, familial status and disability are specifically listed as characteristics that are not to be considered when determining who may rent properties. The law does incorporate reasonable exceptions. For example, denying an available space to the opposite gender in gender-specific housing complexes is not consider discrimination.

References

• Kentucky Legislature: Kentucky Revised Statutes 383.595 Landlord's Maintenance Obligations and Agreements
• Kentucky Legislature: Kentucky Revised Statutes 383.605 Tenant's Maintenance Obligations
• Kentucky Legislature: Kentucky Revised Statutes 383.665 Tenant's Failure to Maintain
• Kentucky Attorney General: Rental Housing
• Kentucky Commission on Human Rights: Kentucky's Fair Housing Laws

Resources

• Kentucky Legislature: Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 383.00