What is habitability and why is it so important? Essentially, it is anything that endangers the livability of the property and the health and welfare of the tenants. Many common issues are lack of heat, running water, major roof leaks, unsafe electrical, carpeting, stairways, or sidewalks, etc.
When renting a property to others, whether a house, an apartment building, a condominium, etc., it is under the assumption that it complies with an “implied warranty of habitability.” Simply put, this means that the property you are renting is structurally safe for human habitation. An owner must prove basic criteria for “implied warranty of habitability.”
- The property is to be structurally sound, meaning it does not contain pest problems, holes in the walls, ceilings, or floors, and is safe for occupancy. A home that has any of these problems, or that does not provide adequate protection from the elements, is not considered fit for occupancy.
- Known hazards or problems within the dwelling that might make it unsafe for tenants, such as asbestos insulation, lead paint, carbon monoxide leaks, or problematic plumbing. When renting a property, the owner implies that there are no hazardous aspects to the dwelling.
- It is necessary to provide a working bathroom. Therefore, properly working bathroom fixtures, such as a sink, toilet, and bathtub or shower, must be usable for it to be fit for occupancy.
- A consistently recurring problem may not fit the implied warranty of habitability. For example, if there is a problem with lack of heat, this is a breach of the implied warranty of habitability.
If a problem exists and the property owner does not provide the maintenance required to solve the problem, it can lead to a lawsuit filed for “breach of implied warranty of habitability” and is subject to the collection of punitive damages. The court has a very dim view of property owners that ignore the safety of their tenants. The court puts the burden of proof on the owner, not the tenant.
Over the years, courts have made many habitability rulings based on the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, the URLTA. When faced with a difficult case between Landlord and Tenant, a judge will often consult the many points of this Act before rendering a decision. A number of states have based their statutory law on this act or the Model Residential Landlord-Tenant Code. Interpretations can vary with different judges and in different states. In addition, states will often model their legislation on rulings based on those of another state. Many people are unaware of the existence of these acts and their impact on tenant relations.
