Repairing and Deducting
KRS 383.635 — a small repair done by the tenant after 14 days, and its cost taken off the rent
When a landlord willfully fails to make a repair that materially affects health and safety, and the reasonable cost is less than $100 or one half of a month's rent, whichever is greater, the tenant may give notice of an intent to fix it at the landlord's expense. If the landlord still fails within 14 days of written notice, or as promptly as an emergency requires, the tenant may have the work done properly and deduct the actual, reasonable cost from the rent, with an itemized statement.
A tenant does not repair at the landlord's expense a condition the tenant, the tenant's family or a guest caused. This section is part of the landlord tenant act, which applies where the city or county has adopted it.
Sources for this section (2)
- KRS 383.635 — Remedies for noncompliance that affects health and safety
- KRS 383.500 — Local governments authorized to adopt provisions of the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act in their entirety and without amendment
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Kentucky attorney.