Kentucky 2022 2022 Regular Session

Kentucky Senate Bill SB368 Introduced / Bill

                    UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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AN ACT relating to rights and obligations of landlords and tenants to a residential 1 
lease. 2 
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 3 
SECTION 1.   KRS 383.545 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 4 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 5 
As used in Sections 1 to 61 of this Act: 6 
(1) "Action" means an action for damages, possession, ejectment, quiet title, specific 7 
performance, or other judicial proceeding in which rights under a lease or 8 
Sections 1 to 61 of this Act are determined; 9 
(2) "Actual damages" means compensation for direct, consequential, or incidental 10 
injuries or losses. The term includes amounts payable to a landlord or tenant 11 
under the lease for a violation of the lease and diminution in the value of a 12 
dwelling unit; 13 
(3) "Bank" means an organization that engages in the business of banking and is 14 
federally insured. The term includes a savings bank, savings and loan 15 
association, credit union, and trust company; 16 
(4) "Building, housing, fire, or health code" includes any law concerning fitness for 17 
habitation or the construction, maintenance, operation, occupancy, use, or 18 
appearance of the premises; 19 
(5) "Contact person" means a person designated by a tenant under subsection (2) of 20 
Section 8 of this Act; 21 
(6) "Criminal act" or "criminal activity" means: 22 
(a) The manufacture, sale, distribution, use, or possession of a controlled 23 
substance on or in the vicinity of the premises which is criminal under state 24 
or federal law; or  25 
(b) Activity that is criminal under state or federal law and threatens the health 26 
or safety of an individual on the premises or the landlord or landlord’s 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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agent on or off the premises; 1 
(7) "Diminution in the value of a dwelling unit" means a reduction from rent which 2 
reflects the extent to which a noncompliant condition of the premises impairs the 3 
tenant’s use and enjoyment of the unit, as determined by a court based on 4 
evidence that need not include expert testimony; 5 
(8) "Dwelling unit" means property leased to a tenant for use as a home, residence, 6 
or sleeping place by an individual or two (2) or more individuals who maintain a 7 
common household, regardless of their relationship to each other. The term 8 
includes: 9 
(a) A single family residence, together with fixtures and appurtenances, the 10 
land on which it is located, and any other structure on the land; and  11 
(b) A structure or part of a structure in which the tenant resides, together with 12 
fixtures and appurtenances, and any other area of the land on which the 13 
structure is located to which the tenant is given an exclusive right of 14 
possession during the term of the lease, including a designated parking 15 
space or storage area; 16 
(9) "Electronic" means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, 17 
wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capability; 18 
(10) "Essential service" means heat, hot and cold running water, sewage or septic 19 
disposal, and electricity. The term includes gas or air conditioning if required to 20 
be supplied to a tenant by the lease or state law or local ordinance which, if not 21 
supplied to the tenant, would create a serious threat to the health, safety, or 22 
property of the tenant or immediate family member; 23 
(11) "Fees" means amounts payable by a tenant to a landlord which the landlord has 24 
no obligation to account for or return to the tenant. The term does not include 25 
rent or a security deposit; 26 
(12) "Funds" means money, checks, bank account credits, certificates of deposit, or 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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the like; 1 
(13) "Good faith" means honesty in fact and the observance of reasonable 2 
commercial standards of fair dealing; 3 
(14) "Guest" means an individual, other than the landlord or landlord’s agent, invited 4 
on the premises by a tenant or immediate family member; 5 
(15) "Immediate family member" means any of the following who habitually resides 6 
in a dwelling unit with a tenant: 7 
(a) An individual related to the tenant by blood, adoption, marriage, civil 8 
union, or domestic partnership; 9 
(b) An individual having an intimate relationship with the tenant; or 10 
(c) A foster child, stepchild, or ward of the tenant; 11 
(16) "Landlord" means: 12 
(a) The owner of a dwelling unit rented to a tenant;  13 
(b) A successor in interest to the landlord;  14 
(c) A sublessor, only if the landlord did not consent to the sublease; and  15 
(d) A person that manages the unit or enters a lease on behalf of the owner of 16 
the unit and fails to comply with Section 7 of this Act, except with respect to 17 
events occurring after: 18 
1. The tenant is given notice in a record that complies with Section 7 of 19 
this Act; or 20 
2. The date of termination of the person’s authority to act on behalf of 21 
the owner if that authority is terminated; 22 
(17) "Law" includes federal or state statutes, case law, administrative action, and 23 
legislative acts of local governments; 24 
(18) "Lease" means a contract, oral or in a record, between a landlord and tenant in 25 
which the landlord rents a dwelling unit to the tenant for a tenancy for a fixed 26 
term or a periodic tenancy. The term includes an amendment to the lease, rules 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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adopted by the landlord which were disclosed to the tenant under Section 7 of this 1 
Act, and, subject to Section 18 of this Act, rules adopted by the landlord after 2 
commencement of the term of the lease; 3 
(19) "Notice in a record" means notice that complies with subsection (2) of Section 6 4 
of this Act; 5 
(20) "Owner" means a person vested with all or part of: 6 
(a) Legal title to the premises; or  7 
(b) Beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the 8 
premises; 9 
(21) "Periodic rent" means the amount payable each month under a tenancy for a 10 
fixed term or a periodic tenancy for month to month or payable each week under 11 
a periodic tenancy for week to week. If rent is payable annually, periodic rent is 12 
the amount of the annual rent divided by twelve (12); 13 
(22) "Periodic tenancy" means a tenancy created under a lease or arising by 14 
operation of law for either month to month or week to week; 15 
(23) "Person" means an individual, estate, trust, business or nonprofit entity, public 16 
corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or 17 
instrumentality, or other legal entity; 18 
(24) "Premises" means a dwelling unit and, to the extent owned by the landlord, any 19 
structure of which the unit is a part. The term includes any area and structure 20 
owned by the landlord which are associated with the structure in which the 21 
dwelling unit is located and held out by the landlord for the use of tenants 22 
generally; 23 
(25) "Prepaid rent" means rent paid to a landlord before the first day of the rental 24 
period to which it is to be applied; 25 
(26) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is 26 
stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form; 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(27) "Rent," used as a noun, means a payment for the right to possession of a 1 
dwelling unit. The term does not include a security deposit or fees; 2 
(28) "Repairs" includes remediation; 3 
(29) "Security deposit" means funds provided to a landlord to secure payment or 4 
performance of a tenant’s obligations under a lease or Sections 1 to 61 of this Act 5 
and the identifiable proceeds of the funds, however denominated. The term does 6 
not include rent or fees; 7 
(30) "Security interest" means an interest in personal property which secures 8 
payment or performance of a tenant’s obligations under a lease or Sections 1 to 9 
61 of this Act; 10 
(31) "Sign" means, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record: 11 
(a) To execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or 12 
(b) To attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, 13 
sound, or process.  14 
  For purposes of this subsection, "symbol" includes an electronic-mail 15 
address or other identifying header; 16 
(32) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 17 
the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to 18 
the jurisdiction of the United States; 19 
(33) "Tenancy for a fixed term" means a tenancy under a lease for a fixed or 20 
computable period, regardless of the length of the period; 21 
(34) "Tenant" means: 22 
(a) A person that is a party to a lease of a dwelling unit and is entitled to 23 
possession of the unit; 24 
(b) An assignee or sublessee of a tenant which has possession of the unit with 25 
the landlord’s consent; and 26 
(c) An individual authorized to occupy the unit by a tenant; 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(35) "Tenant representative" means: 1 
(a) A personal representative of a deceased tenant’s estate; or 2 
(b) Before the appointment of a personal representative, a contact person, or in 3 
the absence of a contact person, a person the landlord reasonably believes 4 
to be an heir of the tenant under the applicable intestate succession law; 5 
(36) "Unearned rent" means rent, including prepaid rent, that a tenant paid to a 6 
landlord for the right to possession of the dwelling unit for any period after the 7 
date the lease terminates in accordance with its terms or Sections 1 to 61 of this 8 
Act. The term does not include an amount, including rent, owed to the landlord 9 
for a period before or after the date the lease terminates during which the tenant 10 
is in physical possession of the premises; and 11 
(37) "Willful" means intentional performance of an act the actor knows to be 12 
prohibited by Sections 1 to 61 of this Act or a lease, intentional failure to perform 13 
an act the actor knows to be required by Sections 1 to 61 of this Act or the lease, 14 
or deliberate indifference to whether the performance or failure to perform 15 
violates Sections 1 to 61 of this Act or the lease. "Willfully" has a corresponding 16 
meaning. 17 
SECTION 2.   KRS 383.535 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 18 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 19 
(1) As used in this section: 20 
(a) "Occupancy as a vacation rental" means occupancy that has the following 21 
characteristics:  22 
1. The tenant rents the dwelling unit for vacation purposes only and has 23 
a principal residence other than the unit; 24 
2. The unit is furnished with personal property necessary to make the 25 
unit ready for immediate occupancy by the tenant; and 26 
3. The occupancy does not exceed thirty (30) consecutive days; and  27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(b) "Transient occupancy" means occupancy in a room or suite of rooms 1 
which has the following characteristics: 2 
1. The cost of occupancy is charged on a daily basis; 3 
2. The operator of the room or suite provides housekeeping and linen 4 
service as part of the regularly charged cost of occupancy; and  5 
3. The occupancy does not exceed thirty (30) consecutive days. 6 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, Sections 1 to 61 of 7 
this Act applies to a lease of a dwelling unit in this Commonwealth. 8 
(3) The following arrangements are not governed by Sections 1 to 61 of this Act: 9 
(a) Residence at a public or private facility, if incidental to detention or the 10 
provision of medical, mental health, geriatric, counseling, educational, 11 
religious, disability, personal safety, or similar service; 12 
(b) Occupancy under a contract of sale of, or an option to purchase, a dwelling 13 
unit or the building of which it is a part, if the occupant is the purchaser or 14 
optionee or an individual who has succeeded to the interest of the purchaser 15 
or optionee; 16 
(c) Occupancy by a member of a fraternal or social organization in a part of a 17 
structure operated for the benefit of the organization; 18 
(d) Transient occupancy; 19 
(e) Occupancy by an employee of a landlord when the employee’s right to 20 
occupancy is conditioned on employment in or about the premises; 21 
(f) Occupancy by a holder of a proprietary lease in a cooperative; 22 
(g) Occupancy under a lease covering premises used by the occupant for 23 
agricultural purposes;  24 
(h) Occupancy as a vacation rental; and 25 
(i) A ground lease of real property which lease does not include a dwelling 26 
unit. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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SECTION 3.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 1 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 2 
(1) A right or obligation under Sections 1 to 61 of this Act is enforceable by an action 3 
unless the provision creating the right or obligation provides otherwise. 4 
(2) A party seeking relief under Sections 1 to 61 of this Act has a duty to mitigate 5 
damages. 6 
SECTION 4.   KRS 383.550 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 7 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 8 
Every lease or duty under Sections 1 to 61 of this Act imposes an obligation of good 9 
faith in its performance and enforcement. 10 
SECTION 5.   KRS 383.555 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 11 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 12 
(1) If a court, as a matter of law, finds a lease or any provision of the lease was 13 
unconscionable at the time it was made, the court may refuse to enforce the lease, 14 
enforce the remainder of the lease without the unconscionable provision, or limit 15 
application of the unconscionable provision to avoid an unconscionable result. 16 
(2) If a court, as a matter of law, finds a settlement agreement in which a party 17 
waived or agreed to forgo a claim or right under a lease or Sections 1 to 61 of this 18 
Act was unconscionable at the time it was made, the court may refuse to enforce 19 
the agreement, enforce the remainder of the agreement without the 20 
unconscionable provision, or limit application of the unconscionable provision to 21 
avoid an unconscionable result. 22 
(3) If a party or the court puts unconscionability in issue under subsection (1) or (2) 23 
of this section, the court shall allow the parties to present evidence of the setting, 24 
purpose, and effect of the lease or settlement agreement to aid the court in 25 
making the determination of unconscionability. 26 
SECTION 6.   KRS 383.560 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 1 
(1) In Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, a person has notice of a fact if the person: 2 
(a) Has actual knowledge of the fact; 3 
(b) Received notice of the fact under subsection (4) of this section; or 4 
(c) Has reason to know the fact exists from all facts known to the person at the 5 
time in question. 6 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of Section 44 of this Act, if 7 
Sections 1 to 61 of this Act require notice in a record, the notice must be signed 8 
by the person giving it and: 9 
(a) Delivered personally to the recipient;  10 
(b) Deposited in the mail with proper postage and properly addressed if: 11 
1. Sent to the landlord, to the mailing address specified under Section 7 12 
of this Act; 13 
2. Sent to the tenant, to the mailing address specified under Section 8 of 14 
this Act; or 15 
3. Sent to a person other than a landlord or tenant, or there is no address 16 
specified for the landlord or tenant, to an address reasonable under 17 
the circumstances; and 18 
(c) Unless the landlord or tenant notifies the other at any time that notice shall 19 
be given only by personal delivery or by mail as provided in paragraph (b) of 20 
this subsection, delivered by another means of communication with cost of 21 
transmission provided for and properly addressed if: 22 
1. Sent to the landlord, to an address specified under Section 7 of this 23 
Act; and 24 
2. Sent to the tenant, to an address specified under Section 8 of this Act; 25 
or 26 
3. No address is specified, to an address reasonable under the 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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circumstances. 1 
(3) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person gives 2 
notice of a fact to another person by taking steps reasonably calculated to inform 3 
the other person, whether or not the other person learns of the fact. 4 
(4) In Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, a person receives notice of a fact when: 5 
(a) The fact comes to the person’s attention; or 6 
(b) If notice in a record is required, the notice is: 7 
1. Personally delivered under subsection (2)(a) of this section; or  8 
2. Sent or delivered under subsection (2)(b) or (c) of this section. 9 
SECTION 7.   KRS 383.585 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 10 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 11 
(1) Before accepting an application fee, the prospective landlord shall disclose to the 12 
prospective tenant in a record the criteria the landlord uses to determine the 13 
landlord’s willingness to enter into a lease with a tenant. 14 
(2) Before accepting funds to be applied to a security deposit, prepaid rent, or fees 15 
other than an application fee, or before entering into a lease, a prospective 16 
landlord shall disclose to the prospective tenant in a record the following: 17 
(a) Any condition of the premises which the landlord knows or on a reasonable 18 
inspection of the premises should have known would constitute a 19 
noncompliance under Section 16 of this Act and would materially interfere 20 
with the health or safety of the tenant or immediate family member or 21 
would materially interfere with the use and enjoyment of the premises by 22 
the tenant or immediate family member; 23 
(b) Whether, to the knowledge of the landlord, a foreclosure action or 24 
extrajudicial foreclosure proceeding has been commenced against the 25 
premises; 26 
(c) If rent is prepaid, the month or other period of the lease to which the rent is 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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to be applied; and 1 
(d) The rules affecting the tenant’s use and enjoyment of the premises, whether 2 
adopted by the landlord or another person. 3 
(3) At or before commencement of the term of a lease, the landlord shall give the 4 
tenant notice in a record specifying: 5 
(a) The name of: 6 
1. The landlord; 7 
2. Any person authorized to manage the premises; 8 
3. The owner of the premises; 9 
4. Any person authorized to act for the owner for service of process; and 10 
5. Any person authorized to receive a notice or demand for the owner; 11 
(b) The mailing address and any address to be used for the receipt of electronic 12 
communications by the landlord or any person designated by the landlord to 13 
which a notice or demand must be sent; and 14 
(c) The address to, or the method by, which the tenant must deliver rent. 15 
(4)  A landlord shall keep the information required by subsection (3) of this section 16 
current. 17 
(5)  If the premises were in foreclosure before a landlord and tenant entered into a 18 
lease and the disclosure required by subsection (2)(b) of this section was not 19 
made, the tenant may recover actual damages resulting from the foreclosure. 20 
SECTION 8.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 21 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 22 
(1) At or before commencement of the term of a lease, the tenant shall give the 23 
landlord notice in a record specifying the tenant’s mailing address and any 24 
address to be used for the receipt of electronic communications by the tenant. 25 
(2) At the request of a landlord, the tenant shall designate a contact person to act for 26 
the tenant on the tenant’s death, by giving the landlord a record specifying the 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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name and, if known, the mailing address, any address to be used for the receipt of 1 
electronic communications, and the telephone number of the contact person. In 2 
the absence of a request by the landlord, the tenant may designate a contact 3 
person in the same manner. 4 
(3) A tenant shall keep current the information required by subsections (1) and (2) of 5 
this section. On termination of the lease, the tenant shall provide the landlord a 6 
forwarding address to which the landlord must send the tenant’s security deposit 7 
and unearned rent, or other communications. 8 
SECTION 9.   KRS 383.510 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 9 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 10 
Unless displaced by the particular provisions of Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, the 11 
principles of law and equity supplement Sections 1 to 61 of this Act. 12 
SECTION 10.   KRS 383.565 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 13 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 14 
(1) A lease may include terms and conditions not prohibited by Sections 1 to 61 of 15 
this Act or other law. 16 
(2) Unless a lease or law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act otherwise provides: 17 
(a) The tenant shall pay rent for the dwelling unit for the term of the lease in 18 
an amount comparable to the rent paid for other dwelling units of similar 19 
size and condition in the same or a comparable location, determined at the 20 
commencement of the term; 21 
(b) Rent is: 22 
1. Payable without demand or notice: 23 
a. At the address or place the landlord designates under Section 7 24 
of this Act or, if no designation is made, at the landlord’s place 25 
of business at the time the lease was made; and 26 
b. On the first day of each month or at the beginning of the term if 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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the term is less than one (1) month; and 1 
2. Uniformly apportioned from day to day; and 2 
(c) A rental period is on a monthly basis beginning with the first day of the 3 
month for a tenancy for a fixed term of more than one (1) month or a 4 
periodic tenancy of month to month and, for all other tenancies, the rental 5 
period begins on the first day rent is paid. 6 
(3) Except as otherwise provided in Section 11 of this Act, unless the lease creates a 7 
tenancy for a fixed term, the tenancy is a periodic tenancy for week to week if the 8 
tenant pays rent weekly and otherwise is a periodic tenancy for month to month. 9 
(4) A landlord shall provide the tenant a copy of any lease that is signed by them or, 10 
if the lease is enforceable under Section 11 of this Act, signed by either of them.  11 
(5) If a landlord willfully fails to comply with subsection (4) of this section, the 12 
tenant may recover actual damages or one (1) month’s periodic rent, whichever is 13 
greater. 14 
SECTION 11.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 15 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 16 
(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section: 17 
(a) If a lease signed by the tenant is delivered to the landlord and the landlord 18 
fails to sign the lease and return it to the tenant, acceptance of rent by the 19 
landlord without a reservation of rights gives the lease the same effect as if 20 
the lease had been signed by the landlord and returned to the tenant; and 21 
(b) If a lease signed by the landlord is delivered to the tenant and the tenant 22 
fails to sign the lease and return it to the landlord, acceptance of possession 23 
and payment of rent without a reservation of rights gives the lease the same 24 
effect as if the lease had been signed by the tenant and returned to the 25 
landlord. 26 
(2) If a lease given effect under subsection (1) of this section provides for a tenancy 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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for a fixed term longer than one (1) year, the lease is effective for one (1) year. 1 
(3) Absent a lease signed by the landlord or tenant which is delivered to the other, if 2 
the tenant accepts possession and pays rent to the landlord without a reservation 3 
of rights and the landlord accepts rent from the tenant without a reservation of 4 
rights, the tenancy created is a periodic tenancy for week to week if the tenant 5 
pays rent weekly and in all other cases a periodic tenancy for month to month. 6 
SECTION 12.   KRS 383.570 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 7 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 8 
(1) A lease may not require the tenant to: 9 
(a) Unless permitted by Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, waive or forgo a right or 10 
remedy under Sections 1 to 61 of this Act; 11 
(b) Authorize a person to confess judgment on a claim arising out of the lease 12 
or Sections 1 to 61 of this Act; 13 
(c) Perform a duty imposed on the landlord by Section 16 of this Act; 14 
(d) Agree to pay attorney’s fees and costs of the landlord other than those 15 
provided by Sections 1 to 61 of this Act or law other than Sections 1 to 61 of 16 
this Act; or 17 
(e) Agree to exculpate or limit a liability of the landlord arising under Sections 18 
1 to 61 of this Act or law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act or 19 
indemnify the landlord for the liability and the costs connected with the 20 
liability. 21 
(2) A provision in a lease prohibited by subsection (1) of this section or law other 22 
than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act is unenforceable. If the landlord seeks to enforce 23 
the provision or accepts the tenant’s voluntary compliance with the provision, the 24 
court may award the tenant an amount not to exceed three (3) times the periodic 25 
rent. 26 
SECTION 13.   KRS 383.575 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 1 
A lease, assignment, sublease, conveyance, trust deed, or security instrument shall not 2 
authorize a person to receive rent without assuming the duties imposed on the landlord 3 
by the lease and Section 16 of this Act. 4 
SECTION 14.   KRS 383.520 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 5 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 6 
(1) In this section, "prevailing party" means a party that: 7 
(a) Initiated the enforcement of a right or remedy under a lease or Sections 1 to 8 
61 of this Act and substantially prevailed on the right or remedy asserted; or 9 
(b) Substantially prevailed in defending against a right or remedy asserted by 10 
the other party. 11 
(2) In an action to enforce a right or remedy arising under a lease or Sections 1 to 61 12 
of this Act, the court shall award the prevailing party costs. The court may award 13 
the prevailing party reasonable attorney’s fees if the court determines that the 14 
other party did not act in good faith, willfully performed an act prohibited by the 15 
lease or Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, or willfully refrained from performing an act 16 
required by the lease or Sections 1 to 61 of this Act. 17 
(3) A court shall not award a landlord attorney’s fees or costs in an uncontested 18 
action to recover possession of a dwelling unit. 19 
SECTION 15.   KRS 383.590 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 20 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 21 
A landlord shall deliver physical possession of the dwelling unit to the tenant at the 22 
commencement of the term of the lease. 23 
SECTION 16.   KRS 383.595 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 24 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 25 
(1) A landlord has a nonwaivable duty to maintain the premises in a habitable 26 
condition, including making necessary repairs. The duty requires the landlord to 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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ensure that the premises: 1 
(a) Comply with all obligations imposed on the landlord by any applicable 2 
building, housing, fire, or health code or law other than Sections 1 to 61 of 3 
this Act; 4 
(b) Have effective waterproofing and weather protection of the roof and 5 
exterior walls, including windows and doors;  6 
(c) Have plumbing facilities that conform to law and are maintained in good 7 
working order; 8 
(d) Have access to a water supply approved under law which can provide hot 9 
and cold running water; 10 
(e) Have adequate ventilation and heating facilities that conform to law and 11 
are maintained in good working order; 12 
(f) Have electrical lighting, with wiring and equipment that conform to law 13 
and are maintained in good working order; 14 
(g) Have reasonable measures in place to control the presence of rodents, 15 
bedbugs, and other vermin and to prevent exposure to unsafe levels of 16 
radon, lead paint, asbestos, toxic mold, and other hazardous substances; 17 
(h) To the extent the premises include a common area or other areas under the 18 
landlord’s control, have reasonable measures in place to make the area: 19 
1. Clean and sanitary; 20 
2. Safe for normal and reasonably foreseeable use consistent with the 21 
lease and in good repair; and 22 
3. Reasonably free of debris, filth, rubbish, garbage, and the items listed 23 
in paragraph (g) of this subsection; 24 
(i) Have an adequate number of appropriate receptacles in reasonably clean 25 
condition if the landlord is obligated to provide trash removal or recycling 26 
service by law or an agreement in a record signed by the landlord and 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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tenant;  1 
(j) Have in good repair floors, doors, windows, walls, ceilings, stairways, and 2 
railings; 3 
(k) Have in good repair other facilities and appliances supplied or required to 4 
be supplied by the landlord; 5 
(l) Have in good repair locks or other security devices on all exterior doors and 6 
on windows that open and close, including those of the dwelling unit and 7 
other parts of the premises; and 8 
(m) Have in good working order any safety equipment required by law. 9 
(2) A landlord has the duty to ensure the premises have access to essential services, 10 
but the lease may require an account with a utility provider of an essential service 11 
to the dwelling unit be in the name of the tenant and the tenant pay the periodic 12 
cost for the service. If the service is not provided because the tenant fails to pay 13 
for the service, the landlord does not fail to comply with this subsection. 14 
(3) If a sublessor is a landlord for purposes of Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, the 15 
sublessor has the duty to comply with subsection (1) of this section except for 16 
duties that would require the sublessor to access parts of the premises beyond the 17 
sublessor’s control. 18 
(4) A landlord and tenant may agree that the tenant is to perform specified repairs, 19 
maintenance tasks, alterations, or remodeling only if: 20 
(a) The agreement is in a record, other than the lease, signed by the parties and 21 
supported by adequate consideration; 22 
(b) The work is not necessary to cure the landlord’s noncompliance with 23 
subsection (1)(a) of this section; and 24 
(c) The agreement does not affect the obligation of the landlord to other 25 
tenants on the premises. 26 
(5) A landlord shall not treat performance of an agreement described in subsection 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(4) of this section as a condition to the performance of any obligation under the 1 
lease or this section. 2 
SECTION 17.   KRS 383.600 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 3 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 4 
Except to the extent a landlord and tenant otherwise agree in a signed record, if the 5 
landlord, in a good-faith sale to a bona fide purchaser, conveys premises that include a 6 
dwelling unit subject to a lease, the following rules apply: 7 
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, the landlord is 8 
relieved of liability under the lease and Sections 1 to 61 of this Act as to an event 9 
that occurs after the later of the conveyance to the purchaser or notice in a record 10 
by the landlord to the tenant of the conveyance; and 11 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in Section 60 of this Act, the landlord remains 12 
liable to the tenant for the amount of any security deposit and unearned rent. 13 
SECTION 18.   KRS 383.610 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 14 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 15 
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (1) of Section 19 of this Act or as 16 
required by law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, a landlord may enforce a 17 
rule of the landlord in existence at the time the lease commenced only if the rule 18 
was disclosed to the tenant at or before commencement of the lease. 19 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, after 20 
commencement of the term of a lease, the landlord may adopt or modify a rule 21 
concerning the tenant’s use and enjoyment of the premises, but the rule or 22 
modification shall not take effect earlier than thirty (30) days after the landlord 23 
gives the tenant notice in a record of the rule or modification. 24 
(3) In a periodic tenancy for month to month, a rule or modification adopted under 25 
subsection (2) of this section shall not take effect before the expiration of the 26 
period in subsection (2)(b) of Section 37 of this Act during which the tenant or 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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landlord could have exercised the right to terminate the tenancy. 1 
(4) In a tenancy for a fixed term, if a rule or modification adopted under subsection 2 
(2) of this section substantially modifies the tenant’s benefit of the bargain and is 3 
not required by law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, the rule is not 4 
enforceable against the tenant unless the tenant consents in a signed record. 5 
SECTION 19.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 6 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 7 
(1) Before the commencement of the term of a lease, if the landlord fails to disclose a 8 
rule adopted by a person other than the landlord which substantially modifies the 9 
tenant’s benefit of the bargain and is not required by law other than Sections 1 to 10 
61 of this Act, and the rule is enforced against the tenant, the tenant may: 11 
(a) Recover actual damages from the landlord; or 12 
(b) Terminate the lease by giving the landlord notice in a record that the lease 13 
will terminate on a date specified in the notice which must be at least (30) 14 
days after the notice is given. 15 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, if, after the 16 
commencement of the term of a lease, a person other than the landlord adopts or 17 
modifies a rule that substantially modifies the tenant’s benefit of the bargain and 18 
is not required by law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act and the rule is 19 
enforced against the tenant, the tenant of a tenancy for a fixed term may 20 
terminate the lease by giving the landlord notice in a record that the lease will 21 
terminate on a date specified in the notice which must be at least thirty (30) days 22 
after the notice is given or, in the case of a periodic tenancy, terminate the 23 
tenancy in accordance with Section 37 of this Act. 24 
(3) A tenant shall not terminate a lease under subsection (2) of this subsection if the 25 
lease provides the dwelling unit is subject to rules of a person other than the 26 
landlord and the person may modify the rules after the commencement of the 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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term of the lease. 1 
SECTION 20.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 2 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 3 
Except as otherwise provided in Section 22 of this Act, if a landlord fails to comply 4 
with the lease or Section 16 of this Act, the tenant has the remedies under Section 21 of 5 
this Act if the tenant gives the landlord: 6 
(1) Notice in a record of the noncompliance; and 7 
(2) An opportunity to remedy the noncompliance within the following periods: 8 
(a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this section, not later than fourteen (14) days 9 
after the tenant gave the notice; and 10 
(b) If the noncompliance involves failure to provide an essential service or 11 
materially interferes with the health or safety of the tenant or immediate 12 
family member, the landlord shall remedy the noncompliance as soon as 13 
practicable but not later than five (5) days after the tenant gave the notice. 14 
SECTION 21.   KRS 383.635 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 15 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 16 
(1) Except as provided in Section 22 of this Act, if a landlord’s noncompliance with 17 
the lease or Section 16 of this Act results in the tenant not receiving an essential 18 
service, materially interferes with the health or safety of the tenant or immediate 19 
family member, or materially interferes with the use and enjoyment of the 20 
premises by the tenant or immediate family member and the noncompliance is 21 
not remedied during the applicable period specified in Section 20 of this Act, the 22 
tenant may: 23 
(a) Terminate the lease as provided in Section 23 of this Act; or 24 
(b) Continue the lease and elect one (1) or more of the following remedies: 25 
1. Withhold rent for the period of noncompliance beginning on the date 26 
the tenant gave notice under Section 20 of this Act; 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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2. Recover actual damages; 1 
3. Obtain injunctive relief, specific performance, or other equitable 2 
relief; 3 
4. Make repairs and deduct the cost from the rent, as provided in Section 4 
25 of this Act; or 5 
5. Secure an essential service the landlord is obligated to provide or 6 
comparable substitute housing during the period of noncompliance as 7 
provided in Section 26 of this Act. 8 
(2) If a landlord’s noncompliance with the lease or Section 16 of this Act does not 9 
materially interfere with the health or safety of the tenant or immediate family 10 
member or the use and enjoyment of the premises by the tenant or immediate 11 
family member, the tenant may elect one (1) or more of the remedies provided in 12 
subsection (1)(b)2., 3., or 4. of this section. 13 
(3) A tenant is not entitled to a remedy under this section to the extent: 14 
(a) The landlord’s noncompliance was caused by an act or omission of the 15 
tenant, immediate family member, or guest; or 16 
(b) The tenant, immediate family member, or guest prevented the landlord from 17 
having access to the dwelling unit to remedy the act or omission described 18 
in the notice under Section 20 of this Act. 19 
SECTION 22.   KRS 383.650 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 20 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 21 
(1) If a dwelling unit or other part of the premises is substantially damaged or 22 
destroyed by a fire, other casualty, or natural disaster and: 23 
(a) The unit or other part of the premises is uninhabitable or inaccessible or 24 
continued occupancy of the unit is unlawful, the tenant may vacate the unit 25 
immediately and, not later than fourteen (14) days after vacating the unit, 26 
give the landlord notice in a record of the tenant's intent to terminate the 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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lease, in which case the lease terminates as of the date the tenant vacates 1 
the unit; or 2 
(b) If continued occupancy of the unit is lawful, subject to the landlord’s right 3 
to terminate the lease under subsection (2) of this section, the tenant, after 4 
complying with Section 20 of this Act, may continue the lease and seek the 5 
remedies provided in subsection (1)(b)1., 2., 3., or 4. of Section 21 of this 6 
Act. 7 
(2) If a dwelling unit or other part of the premises is substantially damaged by a fire, 8 
other casualty, or natural disaster and continued occupancy of the unit is 9 
unlawful or dangerous or requires repairs that can be made only if the tenant 10 
vacates the unit, the landlord may terminate the lease by giving the tenant notice 11 
in a record that the lease will terminate on a specified date, which must be at least 12 
five (5) days after the notice is given. 13 
(3) If a landlord's noncompliance with the lease or Section 16 of this Act materially 14 
interferes with the health or safety of a tenant or immediate family member or the 15 
use and enjoyment of the premises by the tenant or immediate family member 16 
and it is impossible for the landlord to remedy the noncompliance within the 17 
applicable period specified in Section 20 of this Act, the tenant may terminate the 18 
lease as provided in subsection (2) of Section 23 of this Act or, subject to 19 
subsection (4) of this section, continue the lease and recover actual damages 20 
limited to diminution in the value of the dwelling unit. 21 
(4) If a landlord's noncompliance with the lease or Section 16 of this Act materially 22 
interferes with the health or safety of a tenant or immediate family member or the 23 
use and enjoyment of the premises by the tenant or immediate family member 24 
and it is impossible for the landlord to remedy the noncompliance not later than 25 
(30) days after receiving the notice under Section 20 of this Act, the landlord may 26 
terminate the lease by giving the tenant notice in a record that the lease will 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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terminate on a specified date, which must be at least thirty (30) days after the 1 
landlord gives the notice.  The landlord shall not rent the unit for ninety (90) days 2 
after termination of the lease. 3 
(5) If a lease is terminated under this section, the landlord shall return any security 4 
deposit and unearned rent to which the tenant is entitled under Section 59 of this 5 
Act. 6 
(6) This section does not preclude: 7 
(a) A landlord from seeking actual damages from the tenant under law other 8 
than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act for damage to the premises caused by an 9 
act or omission of the tenant, immediate family member, or guest; or 10 
(b) A tenant from seeking actual damages from the landlord under law other 11 
than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act if the fire or other casualty was caused by 12 
an act or omission of the landlord or landlord’s agent. 13 
SECTION 23.   KRS 383.625 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 14 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 15 
(1) If a landlord’s noncompliance with the lease or Section 16 of this Act materially 16 
interferes with the health or safety of the tenant or immediate family member and 17 
the noncompliance is not remedied within the period specified in subsection 18 
(2)(b) of Section 20 of this Act, the tenant may terminate the lease by giving the 19 
landlord notice in a record of the tenant’s intent to terminate the lease 20 
immediately or on a specified date, which is not later than thirty (30) days after 21 
the date of the notice. 22 
(2) If a landlord’s noncompliance with the lease or Section 16 of this Act materially 23 
interferes with the use and enjoyment of the premises unrelated to the health or 24 
safety of the tenant or immediate family member and the noncompliance is not 25 
remedied within the period specified in subsection (2)(a) of Section 20 of this Act, 26 
the tenant may terminate the lease by giving the landlord notice in a record of the 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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tenant’s intent to terminate the lease on a specified date, which must be at least 1 
fourteen (14) days after the expiration of the period allowed under Section 20 of 2 
this Act for the remedy of the noncompliance. 3 
(3) In addition to terminating a lease as provided in subsection (1) or (2) of this 4 
section, the tenant may recover actual damages.  5 
(4) If a tenant terminates a lease under this section, the landlord shall return any 6 
security deposit and unearned rent to which the tenant is entitled under Section 7 
59 of this Act. 8 
SECTION 24.   KRS 383.630 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 9 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 10 
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, if a landlord does 11 
not deliver physical possession of the dwelling unit to the tenant under Section 15 12 
of this Act, the tenant is not required to pay rent until possession is delivered and 13 
may: 14 
(a) Terminate the lease by giving notice in a record to the landlord at any time 15 
before the landlord delivers possession of the unit to the tenant; or 16 
(b) Demand performance of the lease by the landlord and: 17 
1. Recover actual damages and obtain possession of the unit from the 18 
landlord; or 19 
2. Obtain possession of the unit from any person wrongfully in 20 
possession by any lawful means the landlord could have used. 21 
(2) If a tenant terminates the lease under subsection (1)(a) of this section, the 22 
landlord shall return any amounts received from the tenant before the 23 
commencement of the term of the lease.  24 
(3) In addition to the rights of a tenant under subsections (1) and (2) of this section, 25 
if a landlord’s failure to deliver possession to the tenant under Section 15 of this 26 
Act is willful, the tenant may recover three (3) times the periodic rent or three (3) 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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times the actual damages, whichever is greater. 1 
(4) If a tenant seeks possession under subsection (1)(b)2. of this section, the tenant is 2 
liable to the landlord for rent and may recover from the person wrongfully in 3 
possession the damages provided in Section 38 of this Act. 4 
SECTION 25.   KRS 383.640 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 5 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 6 
(1) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, if a landlord fails to comply with the 7 
lease or Section 16 of this Act, the tenant may give notice to the landlord under 8 
Section 20 of this Act specifying the noncompliance. If the landlord fails to 9 
remedy the noncompliance within the applicable period specified in Section 20 of 10 
this Act and the reasonable cost to remedy the noncompliance does not exceed 11 
one (1) month’s periodic rent, the tenant may make repairs to remedy the 12 
noncompliance at the landlord’s expense.  13 
(2) A tenant that makes repairs under subsection (1) of this section is entitled to 14 
recover the actual and reasonable cost incurred or the reasonable value of the 15 
work performed to remedy the noncompliance, not exceeding one (1) month’s 16 
periodic rent.  Unless the tenant has been reimbursed by the landlord, the tenant 17 
may deduct the cost or value from rent after submitting to the landlord an 18 
itemized statement, accompanied by receipts for purchased items and services. 19 
(3) A repair under subsection (1) of this section must be made in a professional 20 
manner and in compliance with applicable law.  21 
(4) A tenant may not repair a noncompliance at the landlord’s expense under 22 
subsection (1) of this section to the extent: 23 
(a) The noncompliance was caused by an act or omission of the tenant, 24 
immediate family member, or guest; or 25 
(b) The landlord was unable to remedy the noncompliance within the 26 
applicable period specified in Section 20 of this Act because the tenant, 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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immediate family member, or guest denied the landlord access to the 1 
dwelling unit.  2 
(5) A tenant’s use of the remedy under this section is limited to one (1) month’s 3 
periodic rent during any twelve (12) month period. 4 
SECTION 26.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 5 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 6 
(1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 22 of this Act, if a tenant fails to receive 7 
an essential service the landlord has a duty to provide under subsection (2) of 8 
Section 16 of this Act, the tenant may give notice to the landlord under Section 20 9 
of this Act specifying the failure. If the landlord fails to provide the essential 10 
service within the applicable period specified in Section 20 of this Act, the tenant 11 
may: 12 
(a) Take appropriate measures to secure the essential service during the period 13 
of the landlord’s noncompliance and deduct the actual and reasonable cost 14 
from the rent; or 15 
(b) Procure comparable substitute housing at the landlord’s expense during the 16 
period of the noncompliance and recover actual damages. 17 
(2) This section does not apply if the tenant’s failure to receive the essential service 18 
was caused by an act or omission of the tenant, immediate family member, or 19 
guest. 20 
SECTION 27.   KRS 383.645 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 21 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 22 
(1) If a landlord fails to comply with the lease or Section 16 of this Act and the 23 
tenant has complied with Section 20 of this Act, the tenant may defend an action 24 
by the landlord based on nonpayment of rent on the ground that no rent was due 25 
because of the noncompliance and counterclaim for any amount the tenant may 26 
recover under the lease or Sections 1 to 61 of this Act. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(2) If a tenant is in possession of the dwelling unit when the landlord files an action 1 
based on nonpayment of rent, either party may seek a court order directing the 2 
tenant to pay all or part of the unpaid rent and all additional rent as it accrues 3 
into an escrow account with the court or a bank or other entity authorized by the 4 
court to hold funds in escrow.  5 
(3) If rent has been paid into escrow under this section and the court determines the 6 
landlord fully complied with the lease and Section 16 of this Act, the court shall 7 
order the immediate release to the landlord of rent held in escrow and enter 8 
judgment for any remaining rent owed.  9 
(4) If rent has been paid into escrow under this section and the court determines that 10 
the landlord’s noncompliance with the lease or Section 16 of this Act materially 11 
interferes with the health or safety of a tenant or an immediate family member or 12 
the use and enjoyment of the premises by the tenant or an immediate family 13 
member, the court may order one (1) or more of the following:  14 
(a) Release to the landlord of all or part of the rent held in escrow to be used 15 
only to bring the premises into compliance with the lease or Section 16 of 16 
this Act; 17 
(b) Return to the tenant of all or part of the rent held in escrow in 18 
compensation for: 19 
1. A repair made by the tenant in compliance with Section 25 of this Act; 20 
or 21 
2. Actual damages; 22 
(c) The tenant’s continued payment of rent into escrow as rent becomes due or 23 
abatement of future rent until the landlord brings the premises into 24 
compliance with the lease or Section 16 of this Act; and 25 
(d) Payment to the landlord of any rent held in escrow not otherwise payable to 26 
the tenant. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(5) If rent has not been paid into escrow under this section and the court determines 1 
that the landlord complied with the lease and Section 16 of this Act, the court 2 
shall render judgment for unpaid rent. 3 
(6) If rent has not been paid into escrow under this section and the court determines 4 
that the landlord’s noncompliance with the lease or Section 16 of this Act 5 
materially interferes with the health or safety of a tenant or immediate family 6 
member or the use and enjoyment of the premises by the tenant or an immediate 7 
family member, the court shall render judgment for unpaid rent less any amount 8 
expended by the tenant in compliance with Section 25 of this Act to repair the 9 
premises and actual damages. 10 
(7) In addition to the other remedies provided in this section, the court may award 11 
possession or other appropriate relief if the court determines the tenant: 12 
(a) Acted in bad faith in withholding rent; or 13 
(b) Failed to comply with an order to pay rent into escrow under subsection (2) 14 
of this section or to pay rent or other amounts owed to the landlord under 15 
this section. 16 
(8) The court shall not award possession if the court determines that the tenant 17 
withheld rent in good faith and the tenant complies with an order to pay unpaid 18 
rent into escrow or to the landlord under this section. 19 
SECTION 28.   KRS 383.655 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 20 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 21 
(1) If a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant from the premises or 22 
willfully interrupts or causes the interruption of an essential service the landlord 23 
has the duty to provide to the tenant, the tenant may recover three (3) times the 24 
periodic rent or three (3) times the damages, whichever is greater, and: 25 
(a) Recover possession; or  26 
(b) Terminate the lease by giving the landlord notice in a record of the tenant’s 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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intent to terminate the lease immediately or on a later specified date. 1 
(2) If a tenant terminates the lease under subsection (1)(b) of this section, the 2 
landlord shall return any security deposit and unearned rent to which the tenant 3 
is entitled under Section 59 of this Act. 4 
SECTION 29.   KRS 383.605 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 5 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 6 
(1) In this section, "normal wear and tear" means deterioration that results from the 7 
intended use of a dwelling unit, including breakage or malfunction due to age or 8 
deteriorated condition.  The term does not include deterioration that results from 9 
negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse of the unit, fixtures, equipment, or 10 
other tangible personal property by the tenant, immediate family member, or 11 
guest. 12 
(2) A tenant: 13 
(a) Shall comply with the obligations imposed on the tenant by the lease and 14 
Sections 1 to 61 this Act; 15 
(b) Shall comply with the obligations imposed on a tenant by any building, 16 
housing, fire, or health code or other law; 17 
(c) Except with respect to duties imposed on the landlord by the lease, Sections 18 
1 to 61 this Act, or other law, shall keep the dwelling unit reasonably safe 19 
and sanitary; 20 
(d) Shall remove all garbage, rubbish, and other debris from the unit in a clean 21 
and safe manner; 22 
(e) Shall keep all plumbing fixtures in the unit reasonably clean; 23 
(f) Shall use in a reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, heating, 24 
ventilating, and air-conditioning system and other facilities and appliances 25 
on the premises; 26 
(g) Without the landlord’s consent, shall not intentionally or negligently: 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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1. Destroy, deface, damage, impair, remove, or render inoperative any 1 
part of the premises; 2 
2. Destroy, deface, damage, impair, remove, or render inoperative any 3 
safety equipment on the premises; or 4 
3. Permit an immediate family member or guest to do any of the acts 5 
specified in this paragraph; 6 
(h) May not disturb the use and enjoyment of the premises by another tenant or 7 
permit an immediate family member or guest to do the same; 8 
(i) May not engage in or permit an immediate family member or guest to 9 
engage in criminal activity; 10 
(j) Shall notify the landlord within a reasonable time of any condition of the 11 
premises which requires repair by the landlord under the lease or Section 12 
16 of this Act;  13 
(k) Shall return the dwelling unit to the landlord at the termination of the lease 14 
in the same condition as it was at the commencement of the term of the 15 
lease, with the premises free of any damage caused by the tenant, immediate 16 
family member, or guest, except for: 17 
1. Normal wear and tear; 18 
2. Damage resulting from a cause beyond the control of the tenant, 19 
immediate family member, or guest; and  20 
3. Any addition and improvement installed on the premises with the 21 
landlord’s consent; and 22 
(l) Unless the landlord and tenant otherwise agree, shall use the dwelling unit 23 
only for residential purposes. 24 
SECTION 30.   KRS 383.660 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 25 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 26 
(1) Except as otherwise provided by law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act and 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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subject to subsection (2) of this section: 1 
(a) A landlord may terminate a lease for nonpayment of rent when the rent is 2 
unpaid when due by giving the tenant notice in a record stating that if the 3 
rent remains unpaid fourteen (14) days after the notice is given, the lease 4 
shall terminate on expiration of the fourteen (14) day period or a later 5 
specified date; or 6 
(b) If there is a material noncompliance with a lease or Sections 1 to 61 of this 7 
Act by the tenant, other than nonpayment of rent, the landlord may give the 8 
tenant notice in a record specifying the act or omission constituting the 9 
noncompliance and stating that if the noncompliance is not remedied not 10 
later than fourteen (14) days after the landlord gives the notice, the lease 11 
shall terminate on a specified date which must be at least thirty (30) days 12 
after the landlord gives the notice. 13 
(2) A landlord may terminate the lease without giving the tenant an opportunity to 14 
remedy a noncompliance by giving the tenant the notice described in subsection 15 
(3) of this section if: 16 
(a) The tenant failed to pay rent in a timely manner on at least two (2) 17 
occasions within the four (4) month period preceding the notice to 18 
terminate the lease; 19 
(b) The tenant committed substantially the same act or omission for which 20 
notice under subsection (1)(b) of this section was given within six (6) 21 
months preceding the latest noncompliance; 22 
(c) The noncompliance by the tenant, immediate family member, or guest poses 23 
an actual and imminent threat to the health or safety of any individual on 24 
the premises or the landlord or landlord’s agent; or 25 
(d) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, the tenant, immediate family 26 
member, or guest has committed a criminal act. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(3) Notice in a record terminating a lease under subsection (2) of this section must 1 
specify the reason for the termination and state that: 2 
(a) For a termination under subsection (2)(a) or (b) of this section, the lease 3 
shall terminate on a specified date, which must be at least fourteen (14) 4 
days after the landlord gave the notice; or  5 
(b) For a termination under subsection (2)(c) or (d) of this section, the lease 6 
shall terminate immediately or on a later specified date. 7 
(4) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, if a tenant fails to 8 
comply with Section 29 of this Act, the landlord may: 9 
(a) Obtain injunctive relief or specific performance; or  10 
(b) Regardless of whether the lease terminates as a result of the tenant’s 11 
noncompliance, recover actual damages or liquidated damages as provided 12 
by the lease. 13 
(5) A landlord shall not terminate a lease under subsection (2)(d) of this section if 14 
the criminal act was the act of an immediate family member or guest, and the 15 
tenant: 16 
(a) Neither knew nor should have known the act was going to be committed; 17 
and 18 
(b) Took reasonable steps to ensure that there will not be a repeated criminal 19 
act on the premises by the immediate family member or guest. 20 
SECTION 31.   KRS 383.675 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 21 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 22 
(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, acceptance by a landlord of rent for two 23 
(2) or more successive rental periods with knowledge of noncompliance by the 24 
tenant with the lease or Sections 1 to 61 of this Act or acceptance by the landlord 25 
of the tenant’s performance that varies from the terms of the lease or Sections 1 26 
to 61 of this Act is a waiver of the landlord’s right to terminate the lease for the 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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noncompliance, unless the landlord and tenant otherwise agree after the 1 
noncompliance occurs.  2 
(2) This section does not prevent a landlord or tenant from exercising a right under 3 
Section 37 of this Act to terminate a periodic tenancy. 4 
SECTION 32.   KRS 383.680 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 5 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 6 
(1) Distraint for rent is abolished. 7 
(2) A landlord shall not create, perfect, or enforce a lien or security interest on a 8 
tenant’s tangible personal property to secure the tenant’s performance under the 9 
lease or Sections 1 to 61 of this Act. This subsection does not apply to a lien or 10 
security interest created or perfected before the effective date of this Act. 11 
SECTION 33.   KRS 383.670 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 12 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 13 
(1) In this section, "reasonable efforts" means steps a landlord would take to rent a 14 
dwelling unit if the unit is vacated at the end of a term, including showing the 15 
unit to a prospective tenant or advertising the availability of the unit.  16 
(2) A tenant abandons a dwelling unit if: 17 
(a) The tenant delivers possession of the unit to the landlord before the end of 18 
the term by returning the keys or other means of access or otherwise 19 
notifies the landlord the unit has been vacated; or 20 
(b) Rent that is due was not paid for at least five (5) days and the tenant has:  21 
1. Vacated the unit by removing substantially all of the tenant’s personal 22 
property from the unit and the premises; and 23 
2. Caused the termination of an essential service or otherwise indicated 24 
by words or conduct that the tenant has no intention to return to the 25 
unit.  26 
(3) If a tenant abandons the dwelling unit before the end of the term of the lease, the 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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landlord may recover possession of the unit without a court order and may: 1 
(a) Accept the tenant’s abandonment of the unit by notice in a record given to 2 
the tenant, in which case: 3 
1. The lease terminates on the date of abandonment; 4 
2. The landlord and tenant are liable to each other under the lease only 5 
for a noncompliance with the lease or Sections 1 to 61 of this Act 6 
which occurred before the lease terminates; and  7 
3. The landlord shall return any security deposit and unearned rent to 8 
which the tenant is entitled under Section 59 of this Act; or  9 
(b) Treat the abandonment as wrongful. 10 
(4) If a landlord treats abandonment of a dwelling unit as wrongful under subsection 11 
(3)(b) of this section, the tenant remains liable under the lease and the landlord 12 
has a duty to mitigate by making a reasonable effort to rent the unit, subject to 13 
the following rules: 14 
(a) The landlord’s duty to mitigate does not take priority over the landlord’s 15 
right to lease first any other dwelling unit the landlord has available to 16 
lease; 17 
(b) If the landlord leases the abandoned unit to another person for a term 18 
beginning before the expiration of the term of the lease of the abandoning 19 
tenant, the lease terminates as of the date of the new tenancy and the 20 
landlord may recover actual damages from the abandoning tenant; 21 
(c) If the landlord makes a reasonable effort to lease the abandoning tenant’s 22 
unit but is unable to lease it or is able to lease it only for an amount less 23 
than the rent payable by the abandoning tenant, the landlord may recover 24 
actual damages from the abandoning tenant; 25 
(d) If the landlord fails to make a reasonable effort to lease the abandoning 26 
tenant’s unit, the lease terminates as of the date of abandonment, and the 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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landlord and tenant are liable to each other under the lease or Sections 1 to 1 
61 of this Act only for a noncompliance with the lease or Sections 1 to 61 of 2 
this Act which occurred before the date of abandonment; and 3 
(e) After deducting the landlord’s actual damages, the landlord shall return 4 
any security deposit and unearned rent to which the tenant is entitled under 5 
Section 59 of this Act. 6 
SECTION 34.   KRS 383.690 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 7 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 8 
Except as otherwise provided in Section 33 of this Act, a landlord: 9 
(1) May not recover or take possession of a dwelling unit by an act of self-help, 10 
including willful interruption or causing the willful interruption of an essential 11 
service to the unit; and 12 
(2) May recover possession of a dwelling unit following termination of a lease only 13 
through an action permitted by law other than Sections 1 to 61 this Act. 14 
SECTION 35.   KRS 383.615 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 15 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 16 
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a landlord may not enter a dwelling 17 
unit unless: 18 
(a) Entry is permitted by the lease or the tenant otherwise agrees; 19 
(b) Entry is under a court order; 20 
(c) The tenant has abandoned the unit under Section 33 of this Act; or 21 
(d) Permitted by law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act. 22 
(2) A tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent for the landlord to enter the 23 
dwelling unit to:  24 
(a) Inspect the unit; 25 
(b) Make a necessary or agreed-to repair, alteration, or improvement; 26 
(c) Supply a necessary or agreed-to service; or 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(d) Exhibit the unit to a prospective or actual purchaser, mortgagee, tenant, 1 
worker, or contractor or a public official responsible for enforcing a 2 
building, housing, fire, or health code or other law. 3 
(3) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) or (5) of this section, a landlord 4 
may enter a dwelling unit only at a reasonable time and with the tenant’s consent 5 
and shall give the tenant at least twenty-four (24) hours' notice of the intent to 6 
enter the unit. 7 
(4) For routine maintenance or pest control, a landlord may enter the dwelling unit 8 
without the tenant’s consent if the landlord gives the tenant: 9 
(a) At least seventy-two (72) hours' notice of the intent to enter the unit; or 10 
(b) A fixed schedule for maintenance or pest control at least seventy-two (72) 11 
hours before the first scheduled entry into the unit. 12 
(5) In an emergency or when maintenance or repairs are being made at a tenant’s 13 
request, the landlord may enter the dwelling unit without the tenant’s consent if 14 
the landlord gives notice that is reasonable under the circumstances. If the 15 
landlord enters the unit when the tenant is not present and notice was not given, 16 
the landlord shall leave notice of the entry in a conspicuous place in the unit 17 
stating the fact of entry, the date and time of entry, and the reason for the entry. 18 
(6) When notice is given under this section before the landlord enters the unit, the 19 
notice must state the intended purpose for the entry and the date and a 20 
reasonable period during which the landlord anticipates making the entry. 21 
(7) A landlord shall not abuse the right under this section to enter a tenant’s 22 
dwelling unit or use the right to harass the tenant. 23 
SECTION 36.   KRS 383.700 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 24 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 25 
(1) If a tenant unreasonably refuses to allow the landlord access to the dwelling unit, 26 
the landlord may recover actual damages or one (1) month’s periodic rent, 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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whichever is greater, and: 1 
(a) The court may compel the tenant to grant the landlord access to the unit; or  2 
(b) The landlord may terminate the lease by giving the tenant notice in a record 3 
stating that if the tenant fails to grant the landlord access to the unit not 4 
later than fourteen (14) days after the notice, the lease shall terminate on 5 
expiration of the fourteen (14) day period or on a later specified date.  6 
(2) If a landlord unlawfully enters a tenant’s dwelling unit, lawfully enters but in an 7 
unreasonable manner, or makes repeated demands to enter that are otherwise 8 
lawful but have the effect of harassing the tenant, the tenant may recover actual 9 
damages or one (1) month’s periodic rent, whichever is greater, and: 10 
(a) Seek injunctive relief to prevent the recurrence of the conduct; or 11 
(b) Terminate the lease by giving the landlord notice in a record that the lease 12 
shall terminate immediately or on a later specified date which is not later 13 
than thirty (30) days after notice is given. 14 
SECTION 37.   KRS 383.695 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 15 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 16 
(1) A periodic tenancy continues until the landlord or tenant gives the other the 17 
notice under subsection (2) of this section. 18 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, a landlord or tenant 19 
may terminate a periodic tenancy: 20 
(a) For week to week, by giving the other at least five (5) days' notice in a 21 
record of the party’s intent to terminate the tenancy on a specified date; and  22 
(b) For month to month, by giving the other at least one (1) month's notice in a 23 
record of the party’s intent to terminate the tenancy at the end of the 24 
monthly period. 25 
SECTION 38.   KRS 383.685 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 26 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section and subsection 1 
(1)(b)2. of Section 24 of this Act, if a tenant remains in possession without the 2 
landlord’s consent after expiration of a tenancy for a fixed term or termination of 3 
a periodic tenancy, the landlord may bring an action for possession. If the 4 
tenant’s holdover is willful, the landlord may recover three (3) times the periodic 5 
rent or three (3) times the actual damages, whichever is greater. 6 
(2) Unless a landlord and tenant otherwise agree in a record, if the tenant remains in 7 
possession with the landlord’s consent after expiration of a tenancy for a fixed 8 
term, a periodic tenancy for month to month arises under the same terms as the 9 
expired lease.  10 
SECTION 39.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 11 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 12 
(1) If a sole tenant under a lease dies before the end of a tenancy for a fixed term or 13 
a periodic tenancy, the tenant’s surviving spouse, partner in a civil union, or 14 
domestic partner who resides in the dwelling unit may assume the lease by giving 15 
the landlord notice in a record not later than twenty (20) days after the tenant’s 16 
death stating the intent of the spouse or partner to assume the lease. On 17 
assuming the lease, the spouse or partner becomes the tenant under the lease. 18 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section or law other than Sections 1 to 61 of 19 
this Act, a landlord or tenant representative may terminate the lease of a deceased 20 
tenant by giving to the other and to a surviving spouse, partner in a civil union, 21 
or domestic partner of the tenant who resides in the dwelling unit notice in a 22 
record.  The notice must state the lease shall terminate on a specified date, which 23 
must be at least thirty (30) days after the notice in the case of a tenancy for a 24 
fixed term or a specified date consistent with subsection (2) of Section 37 of this 25 
Act in the case of a periodic tenancy. Notice sent to a surviving spouse or partner 26 
must also state that the surviving spouse or partner has twenty (20) days after 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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receipt of the notice to assume the lease. If the spouse or partner assumes the 1 
lease, the spouse or partner becomes the tenant under the lease. 2 
(3) If a deceased tenant is survived by a spouse, or partner in a civil union, or 3 
domestic partner who resides in the dwelling unit, notice to terminate a lease 4 
under subsection (2) of this section shall not be given before the time specified in 5 
subsection (1) of this section expires. 6 
(4) If a landlord is unable to contact a deceased tenant’s surviving spouse, partner in 7 
a civil union, or domestic partner who resides in the dwelling unit or tenant 8 
representative for the purpose of terminating the lease under subsection (2) of 9 
this section, the landlord may terminate the lease without notice if rent that was 10 
due was not paid for at least twenty-five (25) days. 11 
SECTION 40.   KRS 383.705 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED AS A NEW 12 
SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 13 
(1) A landlord may not engage in conduct described in subsection (2) of this section 14 
if the landlord’s purpose is to retaliate against a tenant that: 15 
(a) Complained to a governmental agency responsible for enforcement of a 16 
building, housing, fire, or health code or other law, alleging a violation 17 
applicable to the premises materially affecting the health or safety of the 18 
tenant or immediate family member;  19 
(b) Complained to a governmental agency responsible for enforcement of laws 20 
prohibiting discrimination in rental housing; 21 
(c) Complained to the landlord of noncompliance with the lease or Section 16 22 
of this Act; 23 
(d) Organized or became a member of a tenant’s union or similar organization;  24 
(e) Exercised or attempted to exercise a right or remedy under the lease, 25 
Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, or law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act; or 26 
(f) Pursued an action or administrative remedy against the landlord or testified 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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against the landlord in court or an administrative proceeding. 1 
(2) Conduct that may be retaliatory under subsection (1) of this section includes 2 
doing or threatening to do any of the following: 3 
(a) Increasing the rent or fees; 4 
(b) Decreasing services, increasing the tenant’s obligations, imposing different 5 
rules on, or selectively enforcing the landlord’s rules against, the tenant or 6 
immediate family member, or otherwise materially altering the terms of the 7 
lease; 8 
(c) Bringing an action for possession on a ground other than nonpayment of 9 
rent; 10 
(d) Refusing to renew a tenancy for a fixed term under a lease containing a 11 
renewal option that is exercisable by the tenant without negotiation with the 12 
landlord, for any period after the lease would otherwise terminate; 13 
(e) Terminating a periodic tenancy; or 14 
(f) Committing a criminal act against the tenant, immediate family member, or 15 
guest.  16 
(3) A landlord is not liable for retaliation under subsection (1) of this section if: 17 
(a) The violation of which the tenant complained under subsection (1)(a) or (b) 18 
of this section was caused primarily by the tenant, immediate family 19 
member, or guest; 20 
(b) The tenant’s conduct described in subsection (1) of this section was in an 21 
unreasonable manner or at an unreasonable time or was repeated in a 22 
manner harassing the landlord; 23 
(c) The tenant was in default in the payment of rent at the time notice of the 24 
action described in subsection (2)(c) of this section was sent; 25 
(d) The tenant, immediate family member, or guest engaged in conduct that 26 
threatened the health or safety of another tenant on the premises; 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(e) The tenant, immediate family member, or guest engaged in a criminal act;  1 
(f) The landlord is seeking to recover possession based on a notice to terminate 2 
the lease and the notice was given to the tenant before the tenant engaged in 3 
conduct described in subsection (1) of this section; or 4 
(g) The landlord is complying or complied with a building, housing, fire, or 5 
health code or other law by making a required repair, alteration, 6 
remodeling, or demolition that effectively deprives the tenant of the use and 7 
enjoyment of the premises. 8 
SECTION 41.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 9 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 10 
(1) If a landlord’s purpose for engaging in conduct described in subsection (2) of 11 
Section 40 of this Act is to retaliate against the tenant for conduct described in 12 
subsection (1) of Section 40 of this Act:  13 
(a) The tenant has a defense against an action for possession, may recover 14 
possession, or may terminate the lease; and 15 
(b) The tenant may recover three (3) times the periodic rent or three (3) times 16 
the actual damages, whichever is greater. 17 
(2) If a tenant terminates a lease under subsection (1) of this section, the landlord 18 
shall return any security deposit and unearned rent to which the tenant is entitled 19 
under Section 59 of this Act. 20 
(2) A tenant’s exercise of a right under this section does not release the landlord 21 
from liability under Section 21 of this Act. 22 
SECTION 42.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 23 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 24 
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, evidence that a 25 
tenant engaged in conduct described in subsection (1) of Section 40 of this Act 26 
within six (6) months before the landlord’s alleged retaliatory conduct creates a 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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rebuttable presumption that the purpose of the landlord’s conduct was 1 
retaliation. 2 
(2) A presumption does not arise under subsection (1) of this section if the tenant 3 
engaged in conduct described in subsection (1) of Section 40 of this Act after the 4 
landlord gave the tenant notice of the landlord’s intent to engage in conduct 5 
described in subsection (1)(a) to (e) of Section 40 of this Act. 6 
(3) A landlord may rebut a presumption under subsection (1) of this section by a 7 
preponderance of evidence showing that the landlord had sufficient justification 8 
for engaging in the conduct that created the presumption and would have 9 
engaged in the conduct in the same manner and at the same time whether or not 10 
the tenant engaged in conduct described in subsection (1) of Section 40 of this 11 
Act. 12 
SECTION 43.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 13 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 14 
If a tenant engages in conduct described in subsection (1)(a) or (e) of Section 40 of this 15 
Act knowing there is no factual or legal basis for the conduct, the landlord may recover 16 
actual damages and the court may award the landlord up to three (3) times the periodic 17 
rent. 18 
SECTION 44.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 19 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 20 
(1) For purposes of Sections 44 to 46 of this Act, possession of a dwelling unit is 21 
relinquished to the landlord when: 22 
(a) The tenant vacates the unit at the termination of the tenancy; or 23 
(b) The tenant abandons the unit under Section 33 of this Act. 24 
(2) If personal property remains on the premises after possession of a dwelling unit 25 
is relinquished to the landlord and the landlord and tenant do not agree 26 
otherwise at the time of relinquishment, the landlord shall: 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(a) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, give the tenant notice in a record of 1 
the tenant’s right to retrieve the property; and  2 
(b) Leave the property in the unit or store the property on the premises or in 3 
another place of safekeeping and exercise reasonable care in moving or 4 
storing the property. 5 
(3) The notice required by subsection (2)(a) of this section must be posted at the 6 
dwelling unit and: 7 
(a) Sent to any forwarding address the tenant provided to the landlord or an 8 
address provided under Section 8 of this Act or, if no address is provided, to 9 
the address of the unit;  10 
(b) Inform the tenant of the right to contact the landlord to claim the property 11 
within the period specified in subsection (4) of this section, subject to 12 
payment of the landlord’s inventorying, moving, and storage costs; and  13 
(c) Provide a telephone number, electronic-mail address, or mailing address at 14 
which the landlord may be contacted.  15 
(4) If a tenant contacts the landlord to claim personal property not later than eight 16 
(8) days after the landlord gives notice under paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of 17 
this section, the landlord shall permit the tenant to retrieve personal property not 18 
later than five (5) days after the date of contact or within a longer period to which 19 
the parties agree. 20 
(5) A landlord may require the tenant to pay reasonable inventorying, moving, and 21 
storage costs before retrieving personal property under subsection (4) of this 22 
section. 23 
(6) This section does not prohibit a landlord from immediately disposing of 24 
perishable food, hazardous material, garbage, and trash or transferring an 25 
animal to an animal control officer, humane society, or other person willing to 26 
care for the animal. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(7) Unless a landlord and tenant otherwise agree, if the tenant fails to contact the 1 
landlord or retrieve personal property as provided in subsection (4) of this 2 
section, the property is deemed abandoned and:  3 
(a) If a sale is economically feasible, the landlord shall sell the property and, 4 
after deducting the reasonable cost of inventorying, moving, storing, and 5 
disposing of the property, shall treat the proceeds as part of the tenant’s 6 
security deposit; or 7 
(b) If a sale is not economically feasible, the landlord may dispose of the 8 
property in any manner the landlord considers appropriate.  9 
(8) A landlord that complies with this section is not liable to the tenant or another 10 
person for a claim arising from removal of personal property from the premises. 11 
(9) A landlord that recovers possession of a dwelling unit under a court order is not 12 
required to comply with this section.  If a landlord that recovers possession under 13 
a court order complies with this section, that landlord is not liable to the tenant or 14 
another person for a claim arising from removal of personal property from the 15 
premises. 16 
SECTION 45.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 17 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 18 
(1) If a landlord knows that a tenant who was the sole occupant of the dwelling unit 19 
has died, the landlord: 20 
(a) Shall notify a tenant representative of the death;  21 
(b) Shall give the representative access to the premises at a reasonable time to 22 
remove any personal property from the unit and other personal property of 23 
the tenant elsewhere on the premises; 24 
(c) May require the representative to prepare and sign an inventory of the 25 
property being removed; and 26 
(d) Shall pay the representative the deceased tenant's security deposit and 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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unearned rent to which the tenant otherwise would have been entitled under 1 
Section 59 of this Act. 2 
(2) A contact person or heir accepts appointment as a tenant representative by 3 
exercising authority under Sections 1 to 61 of this Act or other assertion or 4 
conduct indicating acceptance. 5 
(3) The authority of a contact person or heir to act under Sections 1 to 61 of this Act 6 
terminates when the person, heir, or landlord knows that a personal 7 
representative has been appointed for the deceased tenant’s estate. 8 
(4) A landlord that complies with this section is not liable to the tenant’s estate or 9 
another person for unearned rent, a security deposit, or a claim arising from 10 
removal of personal property from the premises.  11 
(5) A landlord that willfully violates subsection (1) of this section is liable to the 12 
estate of the deceased tenant for actual damages. 13 
(6) In addition to the rights provided in this section, a tenant representative has the 14 
deceased tenant’s rights and responsibilities under Section 44 of this Act. 15 
SECTION 46.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 16 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 17 
(1) If a landlord knows of the death of a tenant who, at the time of death, was the 18 
sole occupant of the dwelling unit, and the landlord terminates the lease under 19 
subsection (4) of Section 39 of this Act because the landlord is unable to contact a 20 
tenant representative, the landlord: 21 
(a) Shall mail notice to the tenant at the tenant’s last-known address or other 22 
address of the tenant known to the landlord and to any person the tenant 23 
has told the landlord to contact in the case of an emergency stating:  24 
1. The name of the tenant and address of the dwelling unit; 25 
2. The approximate date of the tenant’s death;  26 
3. That, if the personal property on the premises is not claimed within 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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sixty (60) days after the notice was sent, the property is subject to 1 
disposal by the landlord; and 2 
4. The landlord’s name, telephone number, and mail or electronic-mail 3 
address at which the landlord may be contacted to claim the property; 4 
and 5 
(b) With the exercise of reasonable care, may leave the property in the dwelling 6 
unit or inventory the property and store it on the premises or in another 7 
place of safekeeping.  8 
(2) If a tenant representative is subsequently identified, the representative may 9 
retrieve the deceased tenant’s personal property from the landlord not later than 10 
sixty (60) days after the notice under subsection (1) of this section. The landlord 11 
may require the representative to pay the reasonable inventorying, moving, and 12 
storage costs before retrieving the property.  13 
(3) If a deceased tenant’s personal property is not retrieved within the time specified 14 
in subsection (2) of this section, the landlord may dispose of the property in 15 
compliance with subsection (7) of Section 44 of this Act. 16 
(4) A landlord that complies with this section is not liable to the tenant’s estate or 17 
another person for a claim arising from removal of personal property from the 18 
premises. 19 
SECTION 47.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 20 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 21 
As used in Sections 47 to 55 of this Act: 22 
(1) "Attesting third party" means a law enforcement official, licensed health-care 23 
professional, victim advocate, or victim-services provider; 24 
(2) "Dating violence" has the same meaning as dating violence and abuse in KRS 25 
456.010; 26 
(3) "Domestic violence" has the same meaning as domestic violence and abuse in 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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KRS 403.720; 1 
(4) "Perpetrator" means an individual who commits an act of domestic violence, 2 
dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault on a tenant or immediate family 3 
member; 4 
(5) "Sexual assault" means conduct prohibited as any degree of rape, sodomy, or 5 
sexual abuse under KRS Chapter 510 or incest under KRS 530.020; 6 
(6) "Stalking" has the same meaning as stalk in KRS 508.130(1)(a); 7 
(7) "Victim advocate" means an individual, whether paid or serving as a volunteer, 8 
who provides services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or 9 
sexual assault under the auspices or supervision of a victim-services provider, 10 
court, or law-enforcement or prosecution agency; and 11 
(8) "Victim-services provider" means a person that assists victims of domestic 12 
violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault. The term includes a rape 13 
crisis center, domestic violence shelter, or faith-based organization or other 14 
organization with a history of work concerning domestic violence, dating 15 
violence, stalking, or sexual assault. 16 
SECTION 48.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 17 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 18 
(1) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, if a victim of an act of domestic violence, 19 
dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault is a tenant or immediate family 20 
member and has a reasonable fear of suffering psychological harm or a further 21 
act of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault if the victim 22 
continues to reside in the dwelling unit, the tenant, without the necessity of the 23 
landlord’s consent, is released from the lease if the tenant gives the landlord a 24 
notice that complies with subsection (2) of this section and: 25 
(a) A copy of a court order that restrains a perpetrator from contact with the 26 
tenant or immediate family member; 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(b) Evidence of the conviction or adjudication of a perpetrator for an act of 1 
domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault against the 2 
tenant or immediate family member; or  3 
(c) A verification that complies with Section 50 of this Act. 4 
(2) To be released from a lease under subsection (1) of this section, the tenant must 5 
give the landlord notice in a record which: 6 
(a) States the tenant’s intent to be released from the lease on a date which must 7 
be at least thirty (30) days from the date of the notice or, if the perpetrator is 8 
a cotenant of the dwelling unit, an earlier date;  9 
(b) States facts giving rise to the fear of psychological harm or suffering a 10 
further act of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault 11 
if the victim continues to reside in the unit; and 12 
(c) Is given to the landlord:  13 
1. Not later than (90) days after an act of domestic violence, dating 14 
violence, stalking, or sexual assault against the tenant or immediate 15 
family member;  16 
2. When a court order exists that restrains a perpetrator from contact 17 
with the tenant or immediate family member because of an act of 18 
domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault; or  19 
3. If the perpetrator was incarcerated, not later than ninety (90) days 20 
after the tenant acquired knowledge that the perpetrator is no longer 21 
incarcerated. 22 
(3) If there is only one (1) individual tenant of the dwelling unit:  23 
(a) A release under subsection (1) of this section terminates the lease on the 24 
date specified in the notice under subsection (2) of this section if the tenant 25 
vacates the dwelling unit on or before that date; and 26 
(b) The tenant is not liable for rent accruing after the lease terminates or other 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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actual damages resulting from termination of the lease, but the tenant 1 
remains liable to the landlord for rent and other amounts owed to the 2 
landlord before termination of the lease. 3 
(4) If there are multiple individual tenants of the dwelling unit: 4 
(a) The tenant who gave notice under subsection (2) of this section is released 5 
from the lease as of the date specified in the notice if the tenant vacates the 6 
dwelling unit on or before the specified date, but the release of one (1) 7 
tenant under this section does not terminate the lease with respect to other 8 
tenants; 9 
(b) The tenant released from the lease is not liable to the landlord or any other 10 
person for rent accruing after the tenant’s release or actual damages 11 
resulting from the tenant’s release;  12 
(c) Any other tenant under the lease may recover from the perpetrator actual 13 
damages resulting from the termination; and 14 
(d) The landlord is not required to return to the tenant released from the lease 15 
or a remaining tenant any security deposit or unearned rent to which the 16 
tenant is otherwise entitled under Section 59 of this Act until the lease 17 
terminates with respect to all tenants. 18 
(5) This section does not apply if a tenant seeking the release from the lease is a 19 
perpetrator. 20 
SECTION 49.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 21 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 22 
If a tenant is released from a lease under Section 48 of this Act, the landlord: 23 
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4)(d) of Section 48 of this Act, shall 24 
return any security deposit and unearned rent to which the tenant is entitled 25 
under Section 59 of this Act after the tenant vacates the dwelling unit; 26 
(2) May not assess a fee or penalty against the tenant for exercising a right granted 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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under Section 48 of this Act; and 1 
(3) May not disclose information required to be reported to the landlord under 2 
Section 48 of this Act unless: 3 
(a) The tenant provides specific, time-limited, and contemporaneous consent to 4 
the disclosure in a record signed by the tenant; or 5 
(b) The information is required to be disclosed by a court order or law other 6 
than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act. 7 
SECTION 50.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 8 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 9 
(1) A verification given by a tenant under subsection (1)(c) of Section 48 of this Act 10 
must be under oath and include the following:  11 
(a) From the tenant: 12 
1. The tenant’s name and the address of the dwelling unit; 13 
2. The approximate dates on which an act of domestic violence, dating 14 
violence, stalking, or sexual assault occurred;   15 
3. The approximate date of the most recent act of domestic violence, 16 
dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault;   17 
4. A statement that because of an act of domestic violence, dating 18 
violence, stalking, or sexual assault, the tenant or immediate family 19 
member has a reasonable fear that the tenant or family member will 20 
suffer psychological harm or a further act of domestic violence, dating 21 
violence, stalking, or sexual assault if the tenant or family member 22 
continues to reside in the unit; and 23 
5. A statement that the representations in the verification are true and 24 
accurate to the best of the tenant’s knowledge and the tenant 25 
understands that the verification could be used as evidence in court; 26 
and 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(b) From an attesting third party: 1 
1. The name, business address, and business telephone number of the 2 
party; 3 
2. The capacity in which the party received the information regarding 4 
the act of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual 5 
assault;  6 
3. A statement that the party has read the tenant’s verification and been 7 
advised by the tenant that the tenant or immediate family member is 8 
the victim of an act of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or 9 
sexual assault and has a reasonable fear that the tenant or family 10 
member will suffer psychological harm or a further act of domestic 11 
violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault if the tenant or 12 
family member continues to reside in the dwelling unit; and 13 
4. A statement that the party, based on the tenant’s verification, believes 14 
the tenant and understands that the verification may be used as the 15 
ground for releasing the tenant from a lease or terminating the 16 
tenant’s interest under the lease.  17 
(2) If a verification given to a landlord by a tenant under subsection (1)(c) of Section 18 
48 of this Act contains a representation of a material fact known by the tenant to 19 
be false, the landlord may recover an amount not to exceed three (3) times the 20 
periodic rent or three (3) times actual damages, whichever is greater. 21 
SECTION 51.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 22 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 23 
(1) A landlord may recover from a perpetrator actual damages resulting from a 24 
tenant’s exercise of a right under Section 48 of this Act and, if the perpetrator is a 25 
party to the lease who remains in possession of the dwelling unit, hold the 26 
perpetrator liable on the lease for all obligations under the lease or Sections 1 to 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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61 of this Act.  1 
(2) A perpetrator shall not recover actual damages or other relief resulting from the 2 
exercise of a right by a tenant under Section 48 of this Act or a landlord under 3 
this section. 4 
SECTION 52.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 5 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 6 
(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) of this section, if a tenant or immediate family 7 
member is a victim of an act of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or 8 
sexual assault and the tenant has a reasonable fear that the perpetrator or other 9 
person acting on the perpetrator’s behalf may attempt to gain access to the 10 
dwelling unit, the tenant, without the landlord’s consent, may cause the locks or 11 
other security devices for the unit to be changed or rekeyed in a professional 12 
manner and shall give a key or other means of access for the new locks or 13 
security devices to the landlord and any other tenant, other than the perpetrator, 14 
that is a party to the lease. 15 
(2) If locks or other security devices are changed or rekeyed under subsection (1) of 16 
this section, the landlord may change or rekey them, at the tenant’s expense, to 17 
ensure compatibility with the landlord’s master key or other means of access or 18 
otherwise accommodate the landlord’s reasonable commercial needs. 19 
(3) If a perpetrator is a party to the lease, locks or other security devices shall not be 20 
changed or rekeyed under subsection (1) of this section unless a court order, 21 
other than an ex parte order, expressly requires that the perpetrator vacate the 22 
dwelling unit or restrains the perpetrator from contact with the tenant or 23 
immediate family member and a copy of the order has been given to the landlord. 24 
(4) A perpetrator shall not recover actual damages or other relief against a landlord 25 
or tenant resulting from the exercise of a right by the landlord or tenant under 26 
this section. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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SECTION 53.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 1 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 2 
(1) On issuance of a court order requiring a perpetrator to vacate a dwelling unit 3 
because of an act of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual 4 
assault, other than an ex parte order, neither the landlord nor tenant has a duty 5 
to: 6 
(a) Allow the perpetrator access to the unit unless accompanied by a law 7 
enforcement officer; or 8 
(b) Provide the perpetrator with any means of access to the unit.  9 
(2) If a perpetrator is a party to the lease, on issuance of a court order requiring the 10 
perpetrator to vacate the dwelling unit, other than an ex parte order, the 11 
perpetrator’s interest under the lease terminates, and the landlord and any 12 
remaining tenant may recover from the perpetrator actual damages resulting 13 
from the termination. 14 
(3) Termination of a perpetrator’s interest under a lease under this section does not 15 
terminate the interest of any other tenant under the lease or alter the obligations 16 
of any other tenant under the lease. 17 
(4) A landlord is not required to return to a perpetrator whose interest under the 18 
lease terminates under this section or to any remaining tenant any security 19 
deposit or unearned rent until the lease terminates with respect to all tenants. 20 
SECTION 54.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 21 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 22 
(1) If a landlord has a reasonable belief that a tenant or immediate family member is 23 
the victim of an act of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual 24 
assault and another tenant of the same landlord who resides in the same building 25 
as the tenant is the perpetrator, the landlord may terminate the perpetrator’s 26 
interest in the lease by giving the perpetrator notice in a record that the 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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perpetrator’s interest will terminate immediately or on a later specified date, 1 
which is not later than (30) days after notice is given. The notice must state that 2 
the landlord has a reasonable belief that the perpetrator has committed an act of 3 
domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault and the 4 
approximate date of the act. 5 
(2) Before giving notice to a perpetrator under subsection (1) of this section, the 6 
landlord shall give notice of the landlord’s intent to terminate the perpetrator’s 7 
interest to the tenant who was the victim of the act of domestic violence, dating 8 
violence, stalking, or sexual assault or whose immediate family member was the 9 
victim. This notice may be given by any means reasonably calculated to reach the 10 
tenant, including oral communication, notice in a record, or notice sent to the 11 
tenant at any other address at which the landlord reasonably believes the tenant 12 
is located. 13 
(3) Failure of a tenant to receive the notice of the landlord’s intent to terminate the 14 
perpetrator’s interest under subsection (2) of this section does not affect the 15 
landlord’s right to terminate under this section or expose the landlord to any 16 
liability.  17 
(4) If a landlord terminates a perpetrator’s interest under a lease under this section, 18 
any other tenant under the lease may recover from the perpetrator actual 19 
damages resulting from the termination. 20 
(5) Termination of a perpetrator’s interest under a lease under this section does not 21 
terminate the interest of any other tenant under the lease or alter the obligations 22 
of any other tenant under the lease. 23 
(6) A landlord is not required to return to a perpetrator whose interest under a lease 24 
is terminated under this section or to any other tenant under the lease any 25 
security deposit or unearned rent until the lease terminates with respect to all 26 
tenants. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(7) In an action between a landlord and tenant involving the right of the landlord to 1 
terminate the tenant’s interest under this section, the landlord must prove by a 2 
preponderance of the evidence that the landlord had a reasonable belief that the 3 
tenant was a perpetrator. 4 
SECTION 55.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 5 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 6 
(1) In this section, "tenant" includes an applicant seeking to enter into a lease with a 7 
landlord. 8 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section, a landlord 9 
shall not do or threaten to do any act in subsection (2) of Section 40 of this Act if 10 
the landlord’s purpose for engaging in the conduct is that: 11 
(a) An act of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault 12 
committed against the tenant or immediate family member resulted in a 13 
violation of the lease or Sections 1 to 61 of this Act by the tenant; or 14 
(b) A complaint of an act of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or 15 
sexual assault committed against the tenant or immediate family member 16 
resulted in a law enforcement or emergency response. 17 
(3) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, a landlord shall not 18 
refuse or threaten to refuse to rent a dwelling unit if the landlord’s purpose for 19 
the refusal or threat is that a tenant or an immediate family member is or has 20 
been the victim of an act of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual 21 
assault. 22 
(4) Evidence that any of the events described in subsection (2) or (3) of this section 23 
occurred within six (6) months before the landlord’s conduct creates a 24 
presumption that the purpose of the landlord’s conduct was retaliation. The 25 
landlord may rebut the presumption by a preponderance of evidence showing that 26 
the landlord had sufficient justification for engaging in the conduct described in 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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subsection (2) or (3) of this section and would have engaged in the conduct in the 1 
same manner and at the same time regardless whether the events described in 2 
subsection (2) or (3) of this section occurred. 3 
(5) A landlord may terminate the lease of a tenant by giving the tenant notice in a 4 
record that the lease will terminate on a date specified in the notice, which must 5 
be at least thirty (30) days after notice is given if: 6 
(a) Without the landlord’s permission, the tenant invited a perpetrator onto the 7 
premises or allowed a perpetrator to occupy the dwelling unit: 8 
1. After the landlord gave the tenant notice in a record to refrain from 9 
inviting the perpetrator onto the premises; or 10 
2. During a time the tenant knows the perpetrator is subject to a no-11 
contact court order or a court order barring the perpetrator from the 12 
premises; and 13 
(b) The landlord demonstrates that: 14 
1. There is an actual and imminent threat to the health or safety of any 15 
individual on the premises, the landlord, or the landlord’s agent if the 16 
lease is not terminated; or 17 
2. The perpetrator has damaged the premises. 18 
(6) If a landlord willfully violates subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the tenant or 19 
prospective tenant may recover three (3) times the periodic rent or three (3) times 20 
actual damages, whichever is greater, and: 21 
(a) Terminate the lease; 22 
(b) Defend an action for possession on the ground that the landlord violated 23 
subsection (2) of this section; or 24 
(c) Obtain appropriate injunctive relief. 25 
SECTION 56.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 26 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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(1) In Sections 56 to 60 of this Act, "bank account" means a checking, demand, 1 
time, savings, passbook, or similar account maintained at a bank. 2 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, a landlord 3 
shall not require the tenant to pay or agree to pay a security deposit, prepaid rent, 4 
or any combination thereof, in an amount that exceeds two (2) times the periodic 5 
rent. 6 
(3) The limit established in subsection (2) of this section does not include the first 7 
month’s rent or fees.  8 
(4) Except as otherwise provided by law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, if a 9 
tenant keeps a pet on the premises or is permitted by the lease to make alterations 10 
to the premises, the landlord may require the tenant to pay an additional security 11 
deposit in an amount commensurate with the additional risk of damage to the 12 
premises. 13 
SECTION 57.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 14 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 15 
(1) The following apply to a landlord’s interest in a security deposit: 16 
(a) The landlord’s interest is limited to a security interest; 17 
(b) Notwithstanding law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, the landlord’s 18 
security interest is effective against and has priority over each creditor of 19 
and transferee from the tenant; and 20 
(c) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, a creditor of and transferee from 21 
the landlord can acquire no greater interest in a security deposit than the 22 
interest of the landlord. 23 
(2) The following shall apply to a tenant’s interest in a security deposit:  24 
(a) Notwithstanding law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, the tenant’s 25 
interest has priority over any right of setoff the bank in which the account is 26 
maintained may have for obligations owed to the bank other than charges 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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normally associated with the bank’s maintenance of the account; 1 
(b) The tenant’s interest is not adversely affected if the deposit is commingled 2 
with the deposits of other tenants; and 3 
(c) The effect of commingling other than that allowed in paragraph (b) of this 4 
subsection is determined by law other than Sections 1 to 61 of this Act. 5 
(3) Subsection (1)(c) of this section does not abrogate generally applicable rules of 6 
law enabling a transferee of funds to take the funds free of competing claims. 7 
SECTION 58.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 8 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 9 
(1) With respect to funds constituting a security deposit, a landlord: 10 
(a) Shall maintain the ability to identify the funds: 11 
1. By holding the funds in a bank account that is used exclusively for 12 
security deposits, that is maintained with a bank doing business in this 13 
state, and the title of which indicates that it contains security deposits; 14 
and 15 
2. By maintaining records that indicate at all times the amount of the 16 
funds attributable to each tenant whose funds are being held in the 17 
account; and 18 
(b) May commingle the funds received from other tenants as security deposits 19 
in the same bank account but shall not commingle other funds, including 20 
the landlord’s personal or business funds, in the account. 21 
(2) If a landlord fails to comply with subsection (1) of this section, the tenant may 22 
recover actual damages or damages equal to one (1) times the periodic rent, 23 
whichever is greater. 24 
(3) A bank in which a landlord deposits funds constituting a security deposit has no 25 
duty to ensure that the landlord properly applies the funds. 26 
(4) Unless a lease provides otherwise, the landlord is not required to deposit a 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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security deposit into an interest-bearing account or to pay the tenant interest on 1 
the deposit.  2 
SECTION 59.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 3 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4 
(1) After termination of a lease, the tenant is entitled to the amount by which the 5 
security deposit and any unearned rent exceeds the amount the landlord is owed 6 
under the lease or Sections 1 to 61 of this Act. 7 
(2) Not later than thirty (30) days after a lease terminates and the tenant vacates the 8 
premises, the landlord shall determine the amount the landlord believes the 9 
tenant is entitled to under subsection (1) of this section and: 10 
(a) Tender that amount to the tenant or, if the tenant has died, the tenant 11 
representative; 12 
(b) Send that amount by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to an address 13 
provided by the tenant or, if the tenant has died, the tenant representative 14 
or, in the absence of that address, to the relevant address specified in 15 
Section 8 of this Act; or  16 
(c) Cause a funds transfer in that amount to be made, with the cost of transfer 17 
paid, to a bank account designated by the tenant or, if the tenant has died, 18 
the tenant's representative. 19 
(3) If the amount under subsection (2) of this section is less than the sum of the 20 
tenant’s security deposit and any unearned rent, the landlord shall provide the 21 
tenant or tenant representative, within the period specified under subsection (2) 22 
of this section, a record specifying each item of property damage or other 23 
unfulfilled obligation of the tenant to which the security deposit or unearned rent 24 
was applied and the amount applied to each item.  25 
(4) If the amount to which the tenant is entitled under subsection (1) of this section is 26 
greater than the amount paid to the tenant or tenant representative, the tenant or 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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tenant representative may recover the difference.   1 
(5) If a landlord fails to comply with subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the court 2 
may award the tenant or tenant's representative, in addition to any amount 3 
recoverable under subsection (4) of this section, two hundred fifty dollars ($250) 4 
or two (2) times the amount recoverable under subsection (4) of this section, 5 
whichever is greater, unless the landlord’s only noncompliance was the failure to 6 
comply with subsection (2(b)) of this section as a result of the inadvertent failure 7 
to pay the cost of postage or transmission or to use the proper address. 8 
(6) If a security deposit and unearned rent held by a landlord are insufficient to 9 
satisfy the tenant’s obligations under the lease and Sections 1 to 61 of this Act, 10 
the landlord may recover from the tenant the amount necessary to satisfy those 11 
obligations. 12 
SECTION 60.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 383 IS CREATED TO 13 
READ AS FOLLOWS: 14 
(1) When a landlord’s interest in the premises terminates, the landlord:  15 
(a) If the lease continues, not later than thirty (30) days after the termination of 16 
the landlord’s interest, shall transfer to the person succeeding the 17 
landlord’s interest in the premises any security deposit being held by the 18 
landlord and notify the tenant in a record of the successor’s name and 19 
address, the amount transferred, and any claim previously made against the 20 
security deposit; or 21 
(b) If the lease terminates as a result of the termination of the landlord’s 22 
interest, shall comply with Section 59 of this Act. 23 
(2) If a landlord dies before the termination of the lease, the personal representative 24 
of the landlord’s estate becomes the landlord until the premises are distributed to 25 
the successor. If the premises are distributed to the successor before the 26 
termination of the lease, the security deposit held by the representative must be 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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transferred to the successor and the representative shall notify the tenant in a 1 
record of the successor’s name and address, the amount transferred to the 2 
successor, and any claim previously made against the security deposit. If the 3 
premises are not distributed to the successor before the termination of the lease, 4 
the representative shall comply with Section 59 of this Act. 5 
(3) If a landlord or personal representative of the landlord’s estate complies with 6 
subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the landlord or the estate has no further 7 
liability with respect to the security deposit. 8 
(4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a successor to a 9 
landlord’s interest in the premises has all rights and obligations of the landlord 10 
under Sections 1 to 61 of this Act with respect to any security deposit held by the 11 
predecessor landlord which has not been returned to the tenant, whether or not 12 
the security deposit was transferred or distributed to the successor.  13 
(5) If a landlord’s interest is terminated by foreclosure, the successor’s liability 14 
under subsection (4) of this section is limited to the security deposit received by 15 
the successor. 16 
Section 61.   KRS 383.715 is amended to read as follows: 17 
Sections 1 to 61 of this Act[KRS 383.505 to 383.705] shall be known and may be cited 18 
as the "Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act."  19 
Section 62.   The following KRS sections are repealed: 20 
383.300  Protections for person with rental or lease agreement who is protected by 21 
domestic violence order or interpersonal protective order. 22 
383.302  Prohibited inclusion in rental or lease agreement of authority to terminate on 23 
the basis of tenant's request for assistance in emergencies. 24 
383.500  Local governments authorized to adopt provisions of the Uniform Residential 25 
Landlord and Tenant Act in their entirety and without amendment. 26 
383.505  Purposes -- Policies. 27  UNOFFICIAL COPY  	22 RS BR 190 
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383.515  Construction. 1 
383.525  Settlement of disputed claim or right. 2 
383.540  Jurisdiction -- Service of process. 3 
383.580  Security deposits. 4 
383.620  Tenant's use and occupancy. 5 
383.665  Tenant's failure to maintain. 6 
Section 63.   This Act shall apply only to a lease made on or after the effective 7 
date of this Act. 8