Right to a Habitable Home

The Right to a Habitable Home is a legal protection that ensures tenants have the right to live in a safe, sanitary, and livable rental property. This right is implied in every residential lease agreement, and it requires landlords to maintain their rental units in a condition that meets basic health and safety standards. By law, landlords must ensure that the rental property is free from significant defects, such as structural issues, inadequate weatherproofing, defective utilities, and unsanitary conditions. If a rental unit falls below these basic standards of habitability, tenants have the right to request repairs, and landlords must respond in a timely manner to restore the property to a habitable condition.