Kentucky Repair & Habitability Laws

In URLTA counties, Kentucky landlords must maintain rental units in compliance with housing codes and keep essential systems operational.

Key Rules

Repair And Deduct
Yes — capped at $100 or one-half of monthly rent, whichever is greater, after 14 days written notice (URLTA counties)
Rent Withholding
Tenant may terminate agreement for material habitability failure (URLTA counties)
Habitability Standard
Housing code compliance; working plumbing, heating, electrical, and HVAC
Notice Required
14 days written notice to landlord before invoking repair-and-deduct (URLTA counties)

Applicable Statutes

Source confirmed . Confirm current requirements with local legal aid or an attorney.

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.595

Landlord's duties (URLTA counties): landlord must comply with applicable housing codes, maintain structural components, and keep plumbing, heating, electrical, and air-conditioning systems in working condition.

Source confirmed · Official state source

View archived excerpt
“383.595 Landlord's maintenance obligations and agreements. (1) A landlord shall: (a) Comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes ma…”

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.635

Tenant remedies for noncompliance affecting health and safety: in URLTA counties, if the reasonable cost of compliance is less than $100 or one-half of the monthly rent (whichever is greater) and the landlord willfully fails to repair within 14 days written notice, the tenant may repair and deduct the cost, capped at that same $100-or-half-month's-rent figure.

Source confirmed · Official state source

View archived excerpt
“383.635 Remedies for noncompliance that affects health and safety. (1) If the landlord willfully and materially fails to comply with the rental agreement or…”

Legal Aid Resources

Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky (AppalReD)

606-886-9876

Eastern and rural Kentucky

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