Kentucky landlord-tenant law

This page states no Kentucky rule on application or screening fees: the review it relies on recorded none, and no applicable provision beyond KRS chapter 383 was reviewed.

For housing covered by KRS 344.360, Kentucky prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability or national origin in rental availability, terms and services, negotiations, advertisements and applications. Kentucky's landlord and tenant chapter treats an assistance animal, including a service animal or emotional support animal, as not a pet, and a person with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation to keep one. Unless the disability or disability-related need is readily apparent, you may ask for reliable documentation of the need, including from someone with whom the requester has or had a therapeutic relationship, and may independently verify it. Federal fair housing law, local protections and the remaining civil rights provisions were not read for this page.

KRS 344.360 KRS 383.085(2), (3)

In a URLTA locality, disclose in writing, at or before the start of the tenancy, the name and address of the person authorized to manage the home and of an owner or the owner's agent for service of process and notices; tell the tenant where the deposit account is and its account number; and give the move-in damage listing before any deposit is paid. Federal disclosures, such as lead-based paint for older homes, were not read for this page.

KRS 383.585 KRS 383.580(1), (2)

This page states no Kentucky flood disclosure rule: the review it relies on recorded none, and no applicable provision beyond KRS chapter 383 was reviewed.

In a URLTA locality, disclose to the tenant in writing, at or before the start of the tenancy, the name and address of the person authorized to manage the home, and of an owner or a person authorized to act for the owner for service of process and for receiving and receipting for notices and demands.

KRS 383.585

No section of KRS chapter 383, Kentucky's landlord and tenant chapter, caps the amount of a security deposit. No broader deposit-limit review is recorded for this page.

KRS chapter 383 KRS 383.580

No section of KRS chapter 383 sets a deadline for returning a security deposit, so the lease should set one. In a URLTA locality, KRS 383.580(4) says: "No landlord shall be entitled to retain any portion of a security deposit if the security deposit was not deposited in a separate account as required by subsection (1) of this section and if the initial and final damage listings required by subsections (2) and (3) of this section are not provided."

KRS chapter 383 KRS 383.580(4)

In a URLTA locality, deposit the security deposit in an account used only for that purpose, in a bank or other lending institution subject to regulation by Kentucky or by an agency of the United States government, and tell the tenant where the account is and its account number. This page states no interest rule: the review of chapter 383 it relies on recorded none, and no other chapter was read.

KRS 383.580(1)

In a URLTA locality, before the tenant pays anything treated as a security deposit, give the tenant a comprehensive listing of any existing damage you would charge against the deposit, with the estimated dollar cost of repairing it. The tenant may inspect the home before moving in to check it. You both sign it, or, if the tenant refuses to sign, the tenant states in writing the specific items they dissent from and signs that statement.

KRS 383.580(2)

No section of KRS chapter 383 sets a late-fee amount or a grace period, so both come from the lease. Kentucky case law on late fees and penalties was not read for this page.

KRS chapter 383

This page states no Kentucky limit on a returned-check or returned-payment fee: KRS 514.040, the returned-check statute, was not read, and the review of chapter 383 recorded no limit.

This page states no notice period for a rent increase: the review it relies on recorded none. In a URLTA locality, you may not raise rent in retaliation for a tenant's code complaint, complaint to you about repairs, or tenant union activity.

KRS 383.705

In a URLTA locality, the tenant may not unreasonably withhold consent for you to enter to inspect, make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations or improvements, supply necessary or agreed services, or show the home to buyers, lenders, tenants, workers or contractors. Except in an emergency or where it is impracticable, give at least two days' notice of your intent to enter, and enter only at reasonable times. You may not abuse the right of access or use it to harass the tenant.

KRS 383.615

In a URLTA locality, you must comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety; make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to keep the home fit and habitable; keep common areas clean and safe; keep the electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and other facilities and appliances you supply (including elevators) in good and safe working order; and supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times and reasonable heat between October 1 and May 1.

KRS 383.595(1)

In a URLTA locality, if you materially fail to comply with the lease, or fail to meet your repair duties in a way that materially affects health and safety, the tenant may give written notice naming the breach and saying the lease will end on a date at least 30 days after you receive it if the breach is not remedied within 14 days. The tenant may also recover damages and get an injunction.

KRS 383.625(1), (2)

A protected tenant under a qualifying protective order may, after telling you, rekey a lock in good working condition or replace the whole locking mechanism with one of equal or better quality, at the tenant's expense, and must give you a key on request. You may refuse to give a key to the person the order restrains, even if that person is on the lease. The review this page relies on recorded no other Kentucky lock or security device rule.

KRS 383.300(4)

No section of KRS chapter 383 requires smoke alarms. Kentucky's fire and building codes were not read for this page.

KRS chapter 383

In a URLTA locality, you may not retaliate by raising rent, decreasing services, or bringing or threatening an action for possession because the tenant complained to a government agency about a building or housing code violation materially affecting health and safety, complained to you about your repair duties, or organized or joined a tenant union or similar group. A complaint within one year before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption that your conduct was retaliatory, unless the tenant complained after notice of a proposed rent increase or cut in services.

KRS 383.705

In a URLTA locality, if you willfully fail to supply heat, running water, hot water, electric, gas or another essential service, the tenant has the remedies described under tenant repair remedies. In a URLTA locality, KRS 383.655, the section on a tenant's remedies for unlawful ouster, exclusion or diminution of service, lets the tenant recover possession or end the lease, and recover up to three months' periodic rent and a reasonable attorney's fee. This page does not state when a removal or shutoff is unlawful: the review it relies on did not record that.

KRS 383.640 KRS 383.655

In a URLTA locality, you or the tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy by written notice given at least 30 days before the periodic rental date named in the notice, and a week-to-week tenancy by written notice at least seven days before the termination date named. Where the URLTA is not in effect, the landlord may end a tenancy at will or by sufferance by giving one month's written notice requiring the tenant to leave.

KRS 383.695(1), (2) KRS 383.195

Kentucky's landlord and tenant chapter lets a tenant end a lease early in several cases: a tenant protected by a domestic violence order or interpersonal protective order may end it on 30 days' written notice; in a URLTA locality a tenant may end it for your uncorrected material noncompliance or after a fire or casualty that substantially impairs the home; and anywhere in Kentucky a tenant is not liable for rent for the rest of the term if the home is destroyed by fire or other casualty without the tenant's fault or neglect, unless the tenant agreed otherwise.

KRS 383.300(5) KRS 383.625(1) KRS 383.650 KRS 383.170

In a URLTA locality, if rent is unpaid when due and the tenant does not pay within seven days after your written notice of nonpayment and of your intention to end the lease if the rent is not paid within that period, you may end the lease. No section of KRS chapter 383 sets a nonpayment notice outside URLTA localities.

KRS 383.660(2) KRS chapter 383

In a URLTA locality, for a material noncompliance with the lease or with the tenant's statutory maintenance duties or valid rules, give written notice naming the acts and omissions that are the breach and stating that the lease will end on a date at least 14 days after the tenant receives it. If the breach is not remedied within 15 days, the lease ends as the notice says; it does not end if a remediable breach is adequately remedied before the date named.

KRS 383.660(1) KRS 383.605 KRS 383.610

Eviction process

Partly read

An action to recover possession (forcible entry or detainer) is brought in the District Court of the county where the home is, under KRS 383.200 to 383.285. In a URLTA locality the District Court may also hear any claim arising from a transaction the URLTA governs. Use the county court's current forms and hearing instructions; local practice affects filing and enforcement.

KRS 383.210(1) KRS 383.540(1)

In a URLTA locality, you may enter the home after the tenant has abandoned or surrendered it. The review this page relies on recorded no Kentucky rule on storing or disposing of belongings a tenant leaves behind, so this page states none.

KRS 383.615 KRS 383.670(2)

This page states no Kentucky small claims limit: KRS 24A.230, the small claims section, was not read.

Kentucky's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRS 383.505 to 383.705, the URLTA) applies only where a city, county or urban-county government has adopted it under KRS 383.500, in its entirety and without amendment. The statute names no adopter, so confirm with the city or county. Elsewhere, the other sections of KRS chapter 383 (such as the rules on assistance animals, protective orders, casualty and tenancies at will) and your lease govern.

KRS 383.500 KRS 383.505 to 383.705 (URLTA)

Throughout Kentucky, for a lease created or renewed on or after June 29, 2017, you may not end, refuse to renew, refuse to enter into or otherwise retaliate in renting because a person is a protected tenant: a tenant, applicant or tenant with a minor household member protected by a valid domestic violence order or interpersonal protective order that restrains the adverse party from any unauthorized contact; for this rule, the possession defense and the rekey right, a valid emergency protective order, temporary interpersonal protective order or pretrial release no contact order also counts. A lease may not let you end it or penalize the tenant for asking peace officers or others for help in an emergency.

KRS 383.300(3) KRS 383.302

In a URLTA locality, a rental agreement may not make the tenant waive rights under the URLTA, agree to pay your attorney's fees, or agree to exculpate or limit your liability arising under law or indemnify you for it; such a provision is unenforceable. There, accepting rent with knowledge of a default, or accepting performance that varies from the lease, waives your right to end the lease for that breach unless you agree otherwise after the breach.

KRS 383.570(1)(a), (c), (d) KRS 383.675

Unauthorized occupancy and ownership claims

Partly read

An adverse-possession claim concerns ownership. The general Kentucky test described in the cited court decision requires actual, open and notorious, exclusive and continuous possession under a hostile claim of right for fifteen years, proved by clear and convincing evidence. Time at an address alone does not establish every element. This overview does not resolve special title rules, boundaries or a particular ownership dispute.

Federal court application of Kentucky adverse-possession rules KRS 383.290

A Kentucky city, county or urban-county government may adopt the URLTA, and must adopt it in its entirety and without amendment; the statute names no adopter, so confirm with the local government. Since 2025, KRS 383.199 limits certain leases of single-family homes in a county containing a consolidated local government by an owner-occupancy rule; read it before renting a single-family home there. KRS 65.875 reserves legislation controlling rents on private property to the General Assembly, with housing-authority and federal-grant qualifications.

KRS 383.500 KRS 383.199 KRS 65.875