Retaliatory Action

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This website provides information on renting for residency in Lexington, Kentucky. Renting laws change from city to city, and from state to state. You should NOT assume any of the information provided in this website applies to an area outside of Lexington.

>Renting Laws >Retaliatory Action

RETALIATORY ACTION

A landlord may try to retaliate against her/his tenant if the tenant:

Has complained to a governmental agency that is responsible for enforcing a building or housing code, about a violation in or around the apartment or some other of the landlord’s property (see Code Enforcement)
Has complained to the landlord of a violation in the law, housing codes, and/or other type of disobedience
Has organized or become a member of a tenant’s union, association, or similar organization

The landlord is legally NOT allowed to retaliate in any of these situations.

The landlord may try to retaliate by:

Increasing rent
Decreasing essential services (such as hot water, electricity, heat, etc.)
Bringing or threatening to bring an action for possession (see Landlord Can Take Your Possessions)

If you feel that your landlord is trying to retaliate against you because of one of the above reasons, then you should consult Tenant Services and consider taking action against the landlord.

If there is evidence that the tenant performed one of the above actions within 1 year BEFORE the alleged act of retaliation, then there IS reason to presume that the landlord’s action was in retaliation.

If the tenant performed one of the above actions AFTER receiving notice that there would be a rent increase (or other type of retaliation), then there is NOT proof that the landlord has tried to retaliate against the tenant.