Untenantable Living
Conditions
Who is responsible for maintain them and the legal authority provided
By Ben Paulson
P a u l s o n | 1
Introduction:
According to the US Census Bureau, in 2014 roughly one third of the US population
chose to rent their primary residence instead of owning. In fact, this number has been steadily
increasing each year since the housing bubble burst around 2008 (US Census Bureau 2014). The
landlord-tenant relationship is solely dependent on both sides adhering to the stipulations
presented in the lease. This relationship inevitably breaks down when the duties outlined in the
lease are breached. Both the tenant and the landlord need fair legal authority to provide a true
symbiotic relationship. This paper will explore what legal authority the tenant has over their
respective landlord and any protection the landlord has against a negligent tenant. In order to
provide a fair and lasting relationship, both the landlord and tenant need legal protection against
