A Kentucky lease agreement is a legally binding document between landlords looking to lease their property and tenants covering a monthly fee for it and complying with the rental terms and conditions.
Federal and state laws mandate specific lease agreement requirements for residential properties, including landlord and tenant details, property address, pet policy, safety information, security deposits, rent terms, late fees, and grace periods.
By Type (6)
Standard Lease Agreement
Facilitates a rental agreement between a landlord and a tenant for residential property.
Rent-to-Own Lease Agreement
Lets a tenant have the option to buy the property they're renting at a later date.
Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
Offers residents the choice of flexible, month-to-month occupancy of a property, without the requirement of a long-term commitment.
Sublease Agreement
Grants the subtenant the permission to rent either the entire property or a portion of it for a specified period.
Room Rental Agreement
Used to formalize a living arrangement, by creating a binding contract among a primary tenant and other occupants.
Laws
Overview
Rent Control: No.
Limit on Late Fees: No.
Late Fees in Rental Agreement: Yes.
Grace Period: No.
License Required for Landlord: No.
Required Lease Disclosures
When entering a lease agreement, Kentucky rental laws impose specific requirements for landlords and tenants. For example, Title 32, Chapter 383 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes provides for the following disclosures:
- Move-in Inspection Form. 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.
- 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. (§ 383.580(1))
- Identification. Kentucky landlords must provide tenants, in writing before the lease begins, the names and addresses of the person authorized to manage the property and the owner or a person authorized to act for and on behalf of the property owner (§ 383.585).
- Lead-Based Paint Disclosure. Landlords must provide tenants with a lead-based paint disclosure if the rental property was built before 1978 (documenting the possibility of lead paint on the rental property, including in common areas).
Security Deposit
No statute governs how much landlords may request from tenants as a security deposit.
Kentucky landlords are required to return tenant security deposits within 30 days from termination of the lease due to unpaid rent or 60 days from termination when there has been no dispute (§ 383.580).
Landlord Right of Entry
Kentucky landlords must provide tenants with two days’ notice before entering the premises. Landlords can only enter the premises without notice in emergencies (§ 383.615).
Landlord Obligations
A landlord must adhere to relevant building and housing codes for health and safety. They are also responsible for making necessary repairs to maintain habitability, ensuring cleanliness and safety in common areas, and providing continuous access to running water, reasonable hot water, and heat (from October 1 to May 21).
Additionally, the landlord must keep all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and other facilities and appliances in good and safe working condition. (§ 383.595).
Sample
Below is a free lease agreement template in PDF and Word to rent out your property in Kentucky.