Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Lexington

Find the right Tenant attorney in Lexington, KY

Tenant Law in Kentucky

Relations between tenants and landlords in Lexington, Kentucky can sometimes be touchy. The fact is that it's not easy to be a landlord or a tenant, especially because landlords and tenants often don't understand the legal rights and responsibilities that apply to them.

There are several rights and responsibilities that landlords and tenants have. It's important that each party is aware of their rights, and the rights of the other party. By knowing and respecting these rights, the risk of conflict should be reduced dramatically.

Landlord's Rights in Lexington, KY

First and foremost, landlords have a right to timely payment of rent from their tenants, at the agreed-upon rate. This, of course, imposes on tenants a duty to pay their rent in full, in a timely manner.

They further have a right to compensation for any damage that a tenant causes, beyond ordinary wear and tear. Landlords are free to bill the tenants for repairs to damage they caused, and deduct the cost from the security deposit.

Tenant's Rights in Lexington, KY

At the most basic level, tenants have a basic right to what they're paying for: a habitable living environment. Thus, landlords in Lexington, Kentucky must ensure that the units they rent to tenants meet some basic standards for human habitation. These requirements vary from state to state, but are often fairly easy to meet. There are no legal standards that rented units be pretty, particularly spacious, or luxurious. They simply have to be fit for human beings to live in them. To be considered "habitable," rented units must have water, electricity, some form of heating (if the local climate necessitates it), and adequate protection from the elements (proper insulation, no roof leaks, windows that close, etc.).

Tenants also have a right to ensure that the common areas of their apartment building are reasonably safe. Landlords are required to make sure that the common areas of their buildings meet Lexington, Kentucky's building codes, and that there are no conditions that create unnecessary safety hazards. They are required to make, at their own expense, the required repairs.

Under the laws of Kentucky, and the United States, discrimination in housing on the basis of race, religion, or gender is strictly prohibited. Additionally, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, landlords must not discriminate against renters on the basis of any physical disability. They also have to authorize the renter to make reasonable modifications to their apartment, to make it more accessible. Generally, landlords are only required to allow relatively minor and reversible modifications, and tenants cannot compel them to remodel the building, for example. Also, once the tenant leaves, the landlord can bill the tenant for the costs of restoring the apartment to its original condition.

And finally, most state laws prevent landlords from arbitrarily evicting tenants. If the lease agreement is for a set period of time, the landlord typically can't evict the tenant until the lease expires, without a good reason. Valid causes for eviction include unpaid rent, illegal activities on the property, damage to the building caused by the tenant, and excessive noise.

Can a Lexington, Kentucky Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Landlords and tenants generally want to avoid conflict with one another. However, conflicts are sometimes unavoidable. If you end up in a major dispute with a landlord or a tenant, a brilliant Lexington, Kentucky landlord/tenant attorney can help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Lexington

Lexington is the "Thoroughbred City" and self-proclaimed "Horse Capital of the World." Home to three World renown horse-racing tracks that include Keenland which opened in 1936, the Red Mile Harness Track which is the oldest in Lexington, and the new Kentucky Horse Park. There may be an abundance of gambling in Lexington but the economy is known for its stability. Forbes Magazine named Lexington the 5th best city for "Business and Careers." There's an abundance of technology research and high tech industries like Lexmark International, Hewlett Packard, and Affiliated Computer Services as well as government facilities. Such a stable economy makes Lexington a standout city in the United States and quite attractive to job seekers.

One of the major government employers in Lexington is the Lexington-Fayette County Governments. Lexington is the seat of Fayette County, Kentucky and therefore has many of the administrative buildings, courts, jails, and political facilities. A number of lawyers call Lexington home since there are so many local courts. Lexington lawyers can consult on any type of case heard in Lexington and Fayette County Courts including personal injury, probate, criminal, divorce, and child custody cases.

The City of Lexington's largest employer is the University of Kentucky, which offers a renown College of Medicine and over 10,000 local jobs. The University of Kentucky draw a number of students and top professionals. Don't forget about the American history for tourists either. The Bluegrass Festival and Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate draw tourists from near and far.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Nicholas M.
Nicholas M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Golden, CO

Carl M.
Carl M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Seattle, WA

David A.
David A.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Walnut Creek, CA