KEG: Know your rights as a tenant

If this is your first time renting, you might not know about all your rights as a tenant.

To know what to expect, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission details tenants’ rights as well as landlords’ and tenants’ duties.

Read about some of your rights and duties below, and see a complete guide and more (such as information about security deposits) at www.lfuchrc.org/Tenant_Services/tenant_services.htm.

The following is not a comprehensive list of requirements under the Landlord Tenant Act. All information compiled from the website above.

Tenants have the right to:

  • Receive a comprehensive listing from the landlord, signed by both parties, of existing damages at the time of paying a security deposit and taking possession of the premises, and not be charged for repairs without the listing and a statement of the estimated cost of repairs.
  • Have all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, supplied or required to be supplied, in good and safe working order and condition.
  • Two days’ notice before the landlord enters the premises, except in case of emergency.

Tenants must:

  • Pay rent in the agreed manner and at the agreed time.
  • Keep the premises as clean and as safe as the condition of the premises permits.
  • Not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair or remove any part of the premises or knowingly permit any person to do so.

Landlords must:

  • When requiring a security deposit, present tenant with a comprehensive listing of existing damages before tenant moves in and when tenant moves out.  This listing is required before making any charge against the security deposit, and the tenant must be given a statement of the estimated cost of repairs.
  • Comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety.
  • Make all repairs; and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.