Tenant law in plain language
Nebraska

Landlord Won't Make Repairs in Nebraska: What Can I Do?

Published by Nazanin · October 3, 2026

This page covers repairs in Nebraska. It covers what your landlord must keep in working order, how to ask for repairs, and what you can do if they are not made. It also covers complaints about conditions.

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Not legal advice. Each answer below links to where it comes from. Read it before you act.

  1. After written or actual notice, your landlord must make all repairs. The landlord must do whatever is necessary to put and keep your home fit to live in.

    Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419(1)(b)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  2. Your landlord must supply running water at all times. Your landlord must supply reasonable heat. Your landlord must supply reasonable amounts of hot water at all times. The duty ends in two cases. One: the law does not require the building to be equipped for that. Two: the home is built so that heat or hot water comes from equipment within your exclusive control (only you control it). That equipment must have a direct connection to a public utility (a company that serves the public).

    Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419(1)(f)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  3. Your landlord's duty to make repairs starts after written or actual notice. Put your repair request in writing, keep a copy, and take dated photos of the problem.

    RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419(1)(b)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  4. You may send your landlord a written notice. The notice may be for a material (important) failure to follow the rental agreement. It may be for a failure to meet the landlord duties in section 76-1419 that materially affects health and safety. Those duties include making repairs to keep the home fit to live in. They also include keeping common areas clean and safe, and keeping plumbing, heating, and electrical working.

    Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419(1)(a)-(d) Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1425(1)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  5. The notice must describe the problem. It must say the rental agreement will end on a date. That date must be at least 30 days after your landlord gets the notice. The agreement ends only if the problem is not fixed in 14 days. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.

    RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1425(1)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  6. Suppose you send your landlord a written notice of a breach (a failure to follow the rental agreement, or a health and safety problem). The breach may be fixed by repairs, by paying for the harm, or otherwise. If your landlord adequately fixes it before the end date in your notice, the rental agreement will not end.

    Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1425(1)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  7. Say your landlord deliberately or negligently (carelessly) fails to supply running water, hot water, heat, or essential services. You may give written notice. You may then buy reasonable amounts of them yourself and take their actual and reasonable cost out of the rent. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.

    RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1427(1)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  8. Say your landlord deliberately or negligently (carelessly) fails to supply running water, hot water, heat, or essential services. After written notice, you may instead get money based on the lower fair rental value of the home. Or you may find reasonable substitute housing and not pay rent for the period of your landlord's failure. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.

    RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1427(1)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  9. Suppose your landlord deliberately or negligently (carelessly) fails to supply running water, hot water, heat, or essential services. The failure must go against the rental agreement or the landlord's duty to keep the home fit to live in. After you give written notice, you may get reasonable amounts of them yourself while the problem lasts. Then you take the actual and reasonable cost out of rent. You may instead get reasonable substitute housing and pay no rent while the problem lasts. These rights do not arise if you, your family, or someone there with your consent caused the problem. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.

    RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419(1)(b) Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1427(1)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  10. If your landlord fails to follow the rental agreement, you may ask a court for money. The same is true if your landlord fails to meet the duties in section 76-1419. Those duties include making repairs to keep the home fit to live in. They also include keeping plumbing, heating, and electrical working. You may also ask for injunctive relief (a court order that makes your landlord follow the law). If the failure is willful (on purpose), you may recover reasonable attorney's fees. You get this money only if you win your case and your landlord pays.

    RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419(1)(a)-(d) Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1425(2)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  11. Your landlord may not retaliate (punish you) by raising rent, cutting services, or bringing or threatening an eviction case (an action for possession). This is so after you complain to a government agency about a code violation (a break of building or housing rules) in your home. The violation must materially (in an important way) affect health and safety. The same is true after you join a tenants' union. For very bad conditions, an inspector can condemn the home (order everyone to leave).

    RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(1)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  12. Your landlord may not retaliate (punish you) by raising rent, cutting services, or bringing or threatening an action for possession (an eviction case). This applies after you organize or join a tenants' union or similar organization.

    Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(1)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

  13. Your landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or bring an eviction case after you complain. The complaint is to a government agency about a code violation (a broken housing rule) that has a material effect on health and safety. In 3 cases your landlord may still sue. One: you or someone in your household or there with your consent caused the violation mainly by lack of reasonable care. Two: you are in default in rent (behind on rent). Three: fixing the violation needs alteration (building changes), remodeling, or demolition (tearing down) that would effectively take away your use of the home. For very bad conditions, an inspector can condemn the home (order everyone to leave).

    RenterLaw editorial Nebraska Legislature Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439(1)

    ✓ Sources checked October 2, 2026

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