Renting is not uncommon in Kentucky. In fact, many residents live in a home or apartment that is owned by another, making them a tenant of the property. While a tenant is not the owner of the property, they do have rights while they occupy the residency. Thus, it is important to understand these rights, as it is possible an individual may encounter issues with the property or a dispute with a landlord.
Tenant rights
The landlord-tenant relationship could cause some serious to arise. While a tenant does not own the property or have major responsibilities, such as property taxes, fixes and upkeep, tenants doe have rights and responsibilities. To begin, a tenant is protected from discrimination. In this context, this means that a landlord cannot refuse to rent to someone, apply different terms or conditions or even lie about the availability of unit based on an individual’s protected characteristic, such as race, gender, sexual orientation or familial status.
Other rights include the place being habitable, which means that the landlord must comply with housing codes, make necessary repairs and supply heat from October 1 to May 1. With regards to a security deposit, the laws in Kentucky are slightly different. In the state of Kentucky, a landlord must notify a tenant of any amount that is due to the tenant, then the tenant has 60 days to claim the refund of their security deposit.
Tenant responsibilities
With regards to the lease, a tenant must comply with the terms they agreed to. This commonly means paying rent, leaving at the end of the lease, leaving after an eviction and giving the landlord notice of any necessary repairs. Additionally, any damage caused by the tenant must be paid for by the tenant, which is typically taken from the security deposit. If the damage exceeds this amount, then the tenant is responsible to pay those costs.
Tenant-landlord disputes can arise, making it a difficult or overwhelming situation to be in. However, there are resolutions to these issues. A tenant should take the time to understand their rights and explore their options when it comes to resolving the issues they have encountered. This not only helps address the overall issue but ensures that his or her rights are protected in the matter.