Landlord Won't Make Repairs in Kentucky: What Can I Do?
Kentucky's landlord repair law only applies in cities and counties that adopted it. Here is what your landlord must fix, how to ask in writing, and what to do if nothing changes.
-
Kentucky's landlord repair law, the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, is not automatic statewide. Kentucky lets cities, counties, and urban-county governments choose to adopt it. As of April 2025, these places have adopted it: Barbourville, Bellevue, Bromley, Covington, Dayton, Elsmere, Florence, Lexington-Fayette County, Georgetown, and Louisville-Jefferson County. It also applies in Ludlow, Melbourne, Morgantown, Newport, Oldham County, Pulaski County, Shelbyville, Silver Grove, Southgate, Taylor Mill, and Woodlawn.
Kentucky Justice Online Repair and Deduct for Rental Housing: adoption list Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.500✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
Kentucky cities and counties may adopt the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Where adopted, your landlord must keep your plumbing, wiring, heating, cooling, and any appliances provided in good, safe working order. Your landlord must make repairs needed to keep your home fit to live in. Your landlord must keep common areas clean and safe.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
Kentucky cities and counties may adopt the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Where it is not adopted, your landlord only has to make repairs your lease promises. Look at your lease to see what your landlord agreed to fix.
Kentucky Justice Online Repair and Deduct for Rental Housing: places without URLTA Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.500✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
Kentucky cities and counties may adopt the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Where adopted, ask your landlord to fix the problem in writing, and describe it in detail. Tell your landlord what you will do if nothing changes: end your lease, or fix it yourself and take the cost off your rent. Send the letter by certified mail so you can prove your landlord got it.
Kentucky Justice Online FAQ: How do I ask a landlord to make repairs? Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.500 Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.625(1)✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
Your landlord cannot legally refuse to make repairs that are their job. While you wait, you must keep paying your rent and follow the rest of your lease. Your landlord can still evict you for not paying rent, even if repairs are not done.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
Kentucky cities and counties may adopt the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Where adopted, repair and deduct (fixing the problem yourself and taking the cost off your rent) is one option. One condition is that your landlord fails on purpose to fix a problem serious enough to materially affect (seriously affect) your health and safety. The repair cost must also be under a limit the law sets.
Kentucky Justice Online FAQ: What is repair and deduct? Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.500 Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.635(1)✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
Kentucky cities and counties may adopt the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Where adopted, repair and deduct (fixing the problem yourself and taking the cost off your rent) is one option. If your landlord has not fixed it on purpose 14 days after getting your letter, you can do the work yourself or hire someone. You can then take up to $100 or half a month's rent off your next payment, whichever is more. For example, half of $800 rent is $400, so you could take off up to $400. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.
RenterLaw editorial Kentucky Justice Online FAQ: How do I ask a landlord to make repairs? (repair and deduct option) Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.500 Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.635(1)✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
Kentucky cities and counties may adopt the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Where adopted, repair and deduct (fixing the problem yourself and taking the cost off your rent) has two ways to do the work. If you do the work yourself, keep every receipt for materials you buy. If you hire someone, get an itemized bill (a list of each cost) showing you paid in full. After the work is done, send your landlord a letter with copies of the receipts or bill.
Kentucky Justice Online FAQ: How do I do the repair and deduct? (own work) Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.500 Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.635(1)✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
Kentucky cities and counties may adopt the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Where adopted, you cannot stop paying your rent or put it in a separate account until repairs are made.
Kentucky Justice Online FAQ: Can I withhold rent or put the rent into escrow with the court? Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.500✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
Some Kentucky cities and counties adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. There, you can end your lease if your landlord seriously fails to follow the lease. You can also end it if your landlord breaks the repair law in a way that seriously affects health and safety. Your landlord has 14 days from getting your letter to fix it. If not fixed, your lease ends 30 days after your landlord got your letter. You cannot use this option if you, a family member, or a guest caused the problem on purpose or by being careless. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.
RenterLaw editorial Kentucky Justice Online FAQ: How do I ask a landlord to make repairs? (ending lease option) Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.500 Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.625(1)✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
Kentucky cities and counties may adopt the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Where adopted, you can end your lease faster the second time repairs are not made. If your landlord fails again within 6 months to fix a written repair request, you can end your lease after 14 days. You do not have to wait the usual 30 days. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.
RenterLaw editorial Kentucky Justice Online FAQ: What can I do if my landlord doesn't make the repairs? (second time) Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.500 Kentucky General Assembly KRS 383.625(1)✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
In a Kentucky city or county that adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, your landlord cannot punish you for reporting a problem. Your landlord cannot raise your rent, cut services, or try to evict you for it. This covers a complaint to a housing code agency about a problem that seriously affects health and safety. It also covers a complaint to your landlord about a repair the law requires. This also protects you if you joined a tenants' union.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
In a Kentucky city or county that adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, a complaint made within the past year counts. The law assumes your landlord is punishing you, unless your landlord proves otherwise. The law does not assume this if you complained after your landlord told you about a rent increase or a cut in services. The protection does not apply if you are behind on rent. It does not apply if fixing the problem means you must move out. It also does not apply if the problem came mainly from careless acts by you, someone in your household, or a guest.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
-
A code inspector can check your home for serious problems. If your home is found unsafe to live in, the inspector can order everyone to leave, even if you want to stay.
Is something on this page wrong or out of date? Tell us.