Legal Templates

Free Kentucky Residential Lease/Rental Agreement

Use our Kentucky Lease Agreement to rent out your property.

Updated November 6, 2020 | Legally reviewed by Susan Chai, Esq.

All states, including Kentucky, are required by Federal law to include certain uniform leasing and rental requirements. Such requirements include:

  • The identifying information of both the landlord and tenant,
  • The address and a description of the property,
  • Whether pets are allowed or prohibited,
  • Information about any safety, health, and other occupational hazards,
  • Security deposit details,
  • Rent payment specifics, such as a payment schedule and payment methods.

Keep in mind, states won’t always have identical rental and leasing requirements, and will likely differ on some key issues. It’s important for you to acquaint yourself with Kentucky’s specific differences and requirements in order to best protect your financial and legal renting future.

Table of Contents

1. Kentucky Residential Lease Agreement Sample

The sample lease agreement below describes a contract between “Landlord” Kevin Lee and “Tenant” Olivia Graham. She agrees to rent a duplex in Columbia for $1,000 per month for a fixed term beginning on June 01, 2017 and ending on August 09, 2017. The tenant agrees to pay for all utilities and services for the premises. This is a good example of what provisions a simple lease agreement might contain, and how one should look in its final form.

Kentucky Lease Agreement Sample

2. Kentucky Landlord and Tenant Laws

Kentucky imposes specific and distinct requirements for landlords and tenants when executing a lease or rental agreement. For example, Kentucky statutes provide for the following:

Security Deposit

  • There is no statute governing how much Kentucky landlords may request from tenants as a security deposit (No statute)

Landlord Right of Entry

  • Kentucky landlords are required to provide tenants with two (2) days notice before entering the premises. (KRS § 383.615)
  • Landlords are able to enter the premises without giving notice in emergency situations. (KRS § 383.615)

Additionally, Kentucky law requires:

Required Utilities

  • All properties shall be supplied with running water, reasonable amounts of hot water, and heat between October 1 and May 1. (KRS § 383.595)

Additional Documents

Disclosure of Lead-Based Hazards

All Kentucky landlords of any building constructed before 1978 must notify all tenants of the potential existence of lead-based hazards. (Title 42 U.S. Code § 4852(d))

Rental Inspection Checklist

A landlord must provide all prospective tenants with a list of currently-existing damage to a residential unit. Both the landlord and tenant are required to sign and agree on the findings of a rental inspection checklist, after allowing the tenant to inspect the premises. (KRS § 383.580(2))

Security Deposit Notice

Security deposits must be kept in a separate security deposit bank account, and tenants shall be informed of where the separate account is located and any relevant account numbers. Should a landlord fail to provide a tenant with this information, they will not be able to retain any portion of the security deposit.

Kentucky landlords are required to return tenant security deposits within thirty (30) days from termination of the lease due to unpaid rent, or sixty (60) days from termination when there has been no dispute. (KRS § 383.580(1) – (4)) (KRS § 383.580(6) – (7))

Kentucky Real Estate Documents

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