Walk It Through: The Furnace in January
No heat in winter, a written notice, a space heater bought, a small repair, and a lease ended.
In January, in a county under the landlord tenant act, the furnace dies and the landlord does nothing for days.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
A rental under the act with a landlord who will not repair. Damage the tenant caused, which the tenant may not repair at the landlord's cost, is not part of it.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Material breachA failure by the landlord affecting health and safety that the tenant may name in a written notice ending the agreement at least 30 days out unless fixed in 14 days.
- Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant ActThe rental law in KRS 383.505 to 383.705, which applies only where a city, county or urban county government has adopted it, whole and without amendment.
- Essential servicesHeat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas and similar services a landlord willfully failing to supply gives the tenant three remedies after written notice.