What a Tenant Owes
MCA 70-24-321 — clean and safe, fixtures used reasonably, neighbors left in peace, and damage over $1,000 can be a crime
- A tenant follows the building and housing codes that fall on tenants and affect health and safety.
- The part of the premises the tenant uses is kept as clean and safe as its condition permits, and garbage is disposed of cleanly.
- Plumbing, electrical, heating and other facilities and appliances are used in a reasonable manner.
- The tenant and guests behave so as not to disturb the neighbors' peaceful enjoyment.
Who handles this in Montana: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Montana directory.
A tenant may run a limited business or cottage industry at home with the landlord's written consent, which the landlord may not unreasonably withhold.
Damage as a crime. A tenant who purposely or knowingly destroys or damages part of the premises worth at least $1,000, or lets someone else do it, faces up to $1,000 and 6 months in jail, plus restitution.
Sources for this section (2)
- MCA 70-24-321 — Tenant to maintain dwelling unit
- MCA 45-6-106 — Criminal mischief damage to rental property
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Montana attorney.