Not only known as the bluegrass state and the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, Kentucky is rich in history and good ol’ fashioned barbecue. Real estate investors of rental property can relax in the landlord-friendly state regulations. Although no law exists state-wide of a requirement for a business license for landlords, there are some localities such as the Cities of Covington and Ludlow that do require one. Be sure to check with your local jurisdiction.
At a Glance:
Late Fees: No statute exists specifically pointing to any limitation for a late charge.
Security Deposit: Security deposits have no regulatory rules governing how much can be charged.
Returned Payment Fee Limit: There is a must to post the amount charged of no more than $50.
Notice to Enter: The landlord must provide tenant with a written notice of two days before entering the rental unit.
Late Fee/Returned Check Fee:
According to Kentucky statute KRS § 514.040(4b), if a tenant gives the landlord a payment that bounces (is returned for not enough funds), that landlord may charge a fee of fifty-dollars.
Security Deposits:
There are no limits to how much can be collected as a security deposit, however, whatever amount that is collected must be placed in a separate account and may only be used for security deposits. The bank information such as the name, address and account number needs to be given to the tenant. Additionally, the landlord must provide a list of known issues with the property including a cost to repair. The tenant must also be informed of the right to inspect the rental unit before move-in.
After the tenant moves out and the tenancy ends, the landlord must conduct a move-out inspection. The tenant should be present. A listing of any damage along with the cost to repair must be put on a written statement. Ideally, at the inspection, both landlord and tenant will sign this statement. In the even that a tenant does not agree with what is in the damage statement, his objections may be placed on the document and signed. The complete statute outlining the handling of a security deposit can be found in KRS § 383.580.
Maintenance:
According to KRS § 383.595, Kentucky landlord’s have a responsibility to keep the premises “fit and habitable”. This means that:
- All systems including electric, plumbing, HVAC etc, must be provided in workable condition.
- All local housing and zoning prerequisites must be adhered to.
- There must be working heating and hot water from the months running from October through May 1.
- If there are any common areas, they must be kept clean and safe.
Right of Entry:
In Kentucky, two days’ advance notification is needed before a landlord may enter the rental unit. However, in the case of an emergency, no notice is needed.
Notice to End Lease:
Kentucky’s notice to end the lease is determined by the length of lease. If a lease runs on a month to month basis, a thirty days’ notice is needed; week to week basis would require a seven days’ notice and for leases with a definitive beginning and ending date, also known as a fixed date lease, the notice would be as it is specified in the lease.
Eviction:
There is not a Kentucky landlord that looks forward to an eviction. Actually there is not a real estate investor anywhere that enjoys them. Being in the “know”, however goes a long way! In Kentucky, if a tenant does not pay the rent, a 7-day notice is provided that gives that tenant the opportunity to pay or warning if they do not pay, the lease is terminated. For violations that are not payment oriented, a written notice of fourteen days giving the tenant the opportunity to take care of the issue. If the tenant does not do so within fifteen days, the landlord can go to court and start eviction proceedings. If the same or similar offense occurs within six months from the last one, the landlord will provide the tenant a termination notice of fourteen days. This notice does not give the tenant a chance to remedy the situation.
Questions? Ask a Kentucky Attorney!
Have questions about Kentucky’s landlord-tenant laws? We have you covered. Ask in the box below, to have your questions answered by living, flesh-and-blood attorneys!
DISCLAIMER: Wellspring Financial LLC DBA SparkRental.com is for informational purposes only! Any information, legal or otherwise is provided “as is” without any representations, truth, accuracy, exactness or warranties, expressed or implied. Any data, form, or information provided shall NOT be construed or taken to be legal advice. You must NOT rely on any data, form, or information on this website as an alternative to obtaining sound, legal advice from a licensed or professional legal service provider
I have lived in my current apartment for over 2 years now. The people in the unit across the hall do nothing but start drama and slander our name. I have made several complaints to my landlord about them and their children stealing from us, them threatning us, them letting their dog ( by the way is part of the lease you are not aloud to have) run free and poop everywhere including the hall way. He has done nothing and now is threating to evict us or raise our rent. Is it his dutie to do something about this?
What is the KRS law/statue that states if you are evicted you don’t have to pay out the lease if the apartment is rented? What if they keep my security deposit?
Can landlords in Kentucky charge late fees and with hold your recipe on rent that has been paid 3mos in advance? Showed him this fact and now he says he has to figure up late fees and then well talk about receipts tho he has given me them for everything I have paid him over the last 8mos.
I have lived in the same place for 3 years! I just got new landlords & they are terrible!!! They want to charge $5 a day everyday after the 1st of the month!! Without informing anyone of these changes & I did not sign anything!! They said if I don’t Pay the late fees and just my rent they will continue to charge me $5 until I do!! & also I have a pervious arrangement to pay my landlord the 8th of this month because that’s when I got paid!! They were OK with it!! These new landlords are saying that doesn’t matter!!
A property that continues to turn water off every month for so called maintenance, not always informing tenants that it will be turned off also not just for a few hours it sometimes goes on for about 24 hours. This happens monthly
My daughter put 500.00 down to hold a place the woman didn’t tell her she couldn’t have a dog and when she went to sign lease and gave 844.00 more dollars after she left she called and told the woman she couldn’t take the place Because the woman told her she couldn’t have her dog and she did not say nothing about that when she put down the $500 to hold the place she is on hud And they refused to give her back the $500 that she gave them to hold the place and almost refused to give back to $844 but they did give that back But I think she should be entitled to get her $500 back can anybody help on this matter please and thank you
I have lived in duplex for four years now. The landlord put a water meter under the sink. There is ONLY ONE Main SERVICE line to Duplex. There are 3 apartments. The bill is in landlords name. Is that Legal?? The water was included in rent along with the Trash and now he is saying its too expensive and I NEED TO PAY IT. $750 a month and i pay my electric bill. My concern is THIS LEGAL? Are landlords allowed to put water meters in tenants apartments in Covington ky??
is my land lord allowed to charge my $25 a day in late charges.
also my lease states that i only get back $300 of my $800 deposit.
I’d it legal that landlords tell you no smoking in the rental???
Unfortunately we can’t answer legal questions – please see the Ask An Attorney box above.
My rental agreement states that I was being charged 20 a day in late fees after the initial 25 the first day late. My rent was 480 plus 20 for my pet. I fell behind in rent and we made an agreement he would not pursue an eviction if I paid him 400. He said that I would still owe 150. My lease agreement starts the 15th of every month. On the 16th of the following month he made a 7 day notice to file an eviction adding in the 150 from the previous month which included 50 in late fees. When he filed the eviction he changed it to 10 per day in late fees for the courts. Is it also ethical for him to speak with numerous persons regarding my the situation ? Stating that he would evict and garnish my wages. When I asked him about this he said he will speak to whomever he wants and he doesn’t give a expletive what I feel.
My bother took over rent in a trailor that another brother lived and was really sick and had to move so he has lives there now 7 years and the rent started at 400 went to 550 and the septic has not worked properly since they were told to pump it out into yard and they have been.
Since evwey day the landlord has known od the problem for that long and we have had black mold growing in the trailer since we all suffer from sickness there are 3 kids and which one last year took his life he now the landlord sold the place and kicking us out without eviction notice and blames us for all damage to the place My brother never signed anything while living there he says my other brother signed a lease and I know he didn’t but he has now passed to can I sue him for what health issued it’s caused us and for the death of my youngest son I have not paid rent since he told me to move which is 6 weeks now it’s so wet under the place and he never put gutters up at all and the walls are rottening and roof has holes but blames me for all of it how is this possible when he knew about the plumbing dow 6 plus years and done nothing
We have a family that has 16 to twenty cars, depending on what day it is. They are running an auto storage in the parking lot. Landlord refuses to do anything. What can be done about this situation.
You could try reporting them as an unlicensed auto storage business. But if the landlord won’t evict them, it doesn’t leave you with many options.