Kentucky landlord tenant law: the rules a landlord meets

Kentucky security deposit law

Most you can take

No cap in statuteNo statute sets this

Back to the tenant within

No statute sets thisKRS 383.580(6)-(7)No fixed deadline. If a refund is due, the landlord must notify the tenant and may keep it only after 60 days without a response. If the tenant leaves owing the last month's rent without demanding the deposit, the landlord may apply it after 30 days.

Rent and late fees

Late fee

No statute caps itNo statute sets this

Kentucky rent increase laws and rent control

Notice before a rent increase

No statutory period confirmedKRS 383.198No statute sets a rent increase notice; a month-to-month tenancy under the Uniform Act ends on 30 days' written notice (KRS 383.695(2)). Since 2024 local governments may not adopt landlord-tenant ordinances that conflict with state law, but no statute bans rent control by name.

Rent control

None in forceKRS 383.198

Entering the property: notice to the tenant

Notice before you enter

48 hoursKRS 383.615

Ending a tenancy and eviction notices

Ending a month-to-month tenancy

30 daysKRS 383.695(2)Under the URLTA, 30 days before a rental date. Where it has not been adopted, one month's written notice (KRS 383.195).

Unpaid rent

7 daysKRS 383.660(2); KRS 383.500“7-day notice to pay rent”Paying in full within the period stops itThis applies only where the city or county has adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, such as Louisville and Lexington. Elsewhere no statute sets a nonpayment notice period, so the lease governs, and a tenancy at will needs one month's written notice under KRS 383.195.

Another breach of the lease

14 daysKRS 383.660(1)“14-day notice to cure”The tenant can fix the breach within the periodOnly in jurisdictions that adopted the Uniform Act. The lease ends on a date at least 14 days after receipt unless the tenant remedies the breach, and a repeat of the same breach within six months allows termination on 14 days' notice with no cure.

Lockouts and shutoffs

Banned: lockouts and utility shutoffsKRS 383.655; KRS 383.690

The Kentucky eviction process, step by step

Disclosures a Kentucky lease has to carry

• At or before the start of the tenancy, give in writing the name and address of the manager and of the owner or owner's agent for service and notices. (KRS 383.585)
• Keep deposits in a separate bank account and tell the tenant where it is held and its account number. (KRS 383.580(1))
• Before taking a deposit, give the tenant a signed list of existing damage with estimated repair costs, which the tenant may inspect and sign or dispute. (KRS 383.580(2))