Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Owensboro

Find the right Tenant attorney in Owensboro, KY

Tenant Law in Kentucky

Relations between tenants and landlords in Owensboro, 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 Owensboro, 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 additionally 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 Owensboro, KY

Tenants, most basically, have a right to a habitable apartment. After all, this is what they're paying for. Owensboro, Kentucky landlords are obligated to see that the units they rent to tenants are fit to be lived in by people. Many numerous defects might render an apartment uninhabitable, such as serious infestations and other problems with sanitation, lack of running water or electricity, or failure to provide adequate protection from the outside elements.

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 Owensboro, 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 proper repairs.

Tenants also have rights, under federal and Kentucky law, to not be victims of racial, ethnic, or gender discrimination in housing, whether they are renting or buying. Moreover, landlords are not allowed to discriminate against tenants based on physical disabilities. They must also allow physically-disabled tenants to make reasonable modifications to the apartment to make it more accessible. However, the landlord can require tenants to remove those modifications and restore the property to its original condition once the tenant moves out.

Finally, tenants are legally protected from arbitrary eviction. Landlords usually must have a very good reason to evict a tenant before the lease agreement reaches the end of its term (at this point, they are of course allowed to decline to renew the lease). Of course, if the tenant breaches the lease agreement (such as by failing to pay rent, damaging the property, or violating other reasonable rules the landlord has put in the lease), the landlord, like a party to any other contract, is free to terminate the agreement and evict the breaching tenant.

Can a Owensboro, Kentucky Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Landlords and tenants almost always prefer to avoid conflict. In a perfect world, tenants would pay rent on time, and landlords would always provide the services that they're being paid for. As we know, the world isn't perfect. When cases demonstrate the world's imperfection, an Owensboro, Kentucky real estate attorney can help, whether you're a landlord or a tenant.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Owensboro

Owensboro, Kentucky is the third largest city in Kentucky, and it is the county seat of Daviess County. As of a 2009 estimate by the Census Bureau, it has a population of about 55,000 people.

Human habitation of the area now known as Owensboro dates back at least 12,000 years, with indigenous peoples populating the area, at least on a seasonal basis. The first known permanent settlement of Owensboro came in 1797, when William Smothers set up a trading post.

Modernly, Owensboro is a major center for Bluegrass music, and has a museum dedicated to the musical genre. It also has several different Bluegrass festivals throughout the year. Of historical note, it is also home to Temple Adath Israel. Built in 1877, this place of worship is one of the oldest synagogue buildings in the United States, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

If you live in Owensboro, Kentucky, and are facing a legal issue, an Owensboro Kentucky attorney can probably help. Owensboro, Kentucky lawyers can handle just about any case a resident of the area might be dealing with.

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