When the Landlord Will Not Fix It
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13 — after notice and a reasonable time, the tenant may repair and deduct, or move out
A landlord of a residential unit keeps it fit and habitable, complies with building and housing codes affecting health and safety, keeps common areas clean and safe, keeps the electrical, plumbing, heating and other supplied facilities working, and supplies running water, reasonable hot water and reasonable heat. The landlord gets a reasonable time to remedy a problem.
Repair and deduct, or leave. If, within a reasonable time after the tenant's notice of conditions the landlord ought to repair, the landlord neglects to, the tenant may repair them and deduct the expense from the rent, recover it another lawful way, or vacate and be discharged from further rent.
A tenant may also end the lease early when the landlord does not, within a reasonable time after a request, put the property in good condition or repair it.
Sources for this section (3)
- N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1 — Landlord obligations - Maintenance of premises
- N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13 — When lessee may repair or vacate premises
- N.D.C.C. § 47-16-17 — When lessee may terminate lease
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Dakota attorney.