KRS 383.595: Kentucky Landlord Maintenance Duties

Where it applies (KRS 383.500)

• KRS 383.505 to 383.705 (Kentucky's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) apply where a city, county, or urban-county government has adopted them; KRS 383.500 says they must be adopted in their entirety and without amendment. Check whether your local government has adopted the Act.

The landlord must (383.595(1))

• Comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety.
• Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to keep the premises fit and habitable.
• Keep common areas clean and safe.
• Keep supplied electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, in good and safe working order.
• Supply running water and reasonable hot water at all times, and reasonable heat between October 1 and May 1, except where not required by law or where the tenant controls a heat or hot water installation with a direct utility connection.

Tenant repair agreements (383.595(3)-(4))

• For a single-family home, the parties may agree in writing that the tenant handles the water, hot water, and heat duty and specified repairs, but only in good faith and not to evade the landlord's obligations.
• For other units, a tenant repair agreement must be in good faith, in a separate signed writing supported by adequate consideration, must not cover work needed to cure code violations, and must not reduce the landlord's duties to other tenants.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• KRS 383.595 (official text)
• KRS 383.500 (official text)