Housing Protections for Survivors of Violence

In 2017, the Kentucky legislature passed a law that gives new rights, responsibilities, and protections for tenants and landlords who have a rental agreement and are affected by domestic violence.

These protections are for leases or rental agreements that were entered into or were renewed after June 29, 2017.

Yes.

The law applies to you if you are a “protected tenant.” The person you got your order of protection against is called the “named individual.” These are the terms used in the law.

You are a “protected” tenant if you are a tenant, applicant for housing or a tenant with a minor child and you have:

• an Emergency Protective Order (EPO) or Temporary Interpersonal Order (TIPO) prohibiting all unauthorized contact (contact without permission); OR
• a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) or Interpersonal Protective Order (IPO) prohibiting all unauthorized contact. These are long-term orders entered after a court hearing that you went to, and the other party was served, and the judge made a ruling; OR
• a criminal pre-trial No Contact Order issued by a court in a case where you were the victim of violence.

The “named individual” is the person who did the violence against you. They are named in your court order of protection and are ordered to have no contact with you.

Your landlord can’t do any of the following solely because you are a "protected" tenant:

• Terminate (end) your lease
• Refuse to renew your lease
• Refuse to enter into a lease with you
• Retaliate against you (get back at you)

If there are other issues, these things can happen, but it can’t be because you are “protected.”

Yes, but you must:

1. Give the landlord written notice that you are ending your lease or rental agreement by moving out. And that you are moving out 30 days after you give them the notice. The notice should be dated and signed by you.
   AND
2. Give the landlord a copy of your domestic violence order or your interpersonal protective order. Be sure to keep a copy of everything you give to the landlord and make a note of date and time you gave it to them.

Yes, but you must:

1. Give the landlord written notice that you are ending your lease or rental agreement by moving out. And that you are moving out 30 days after you give them the notice. The notice should be dated and signed by you; AND
2. Give the landlord a copy of your Domestic Violence Order (DVO) or your Interpersonal Protective Order (IPO); AND
3. Show the landlord that your concerns about your safety came up since you entered into the lease or rental agreement. For instance, you moved to get away from the abuser, but they found where you live and are now stalking you. Be sure to keep a copy of everything you give to the landlord and make a note of date and time you gave it to them.

Yes. You have to pay any rent due under your lease up until the date your lease is terminated. And it must be paid on the normal date that your rent is due. If the lease end date is not at the end of your normal rental period, the amount you owe for that month may be pro-rated.  This means you pay just part of your rent.

If you are a protected tenant and follow the rules to end your lease or rental agreement, your landlord can’t give you a bad credit report, a bad character reference, or charge you extra fees.

Yes. If you are a protected tenant, you can re-key the lock you have or have it replaced with a new one. You must tell your landlord you are doing this.  You have to pay for it. If your landlord asks you for a copy of the new key, you do have to give them one.

The landlord can:

• refuse to let the abuser have access to the property, including not giving them a new key
• end the lease with the abuser
• evict the abuser
• go after the abuser for unpaid rent or damage they caused if they violated the order of protection

No. A landlord can’t put anything in your lease that gives them permission to end your lease or fine you if you call the police for help during an emergency. But this law only applies for leases or rental agreements that were created or renewed on or after June 29, 2017.

In this situation, the protections in this factsheet DO NOT apply to you.

Go to the court hearing. Take a copy of your protective order with you. When the judge asks, explain why you think the eviction is based on the acts of violence that caused you to get the protective order.

Yes. There are also additional kinds of protections available to you if you live in federally subsidized housing. To learn about those protections, read the section on federally subsidized housing on this website.