Signing a rental lease is a big decision that requires careful thought and consideration. It’s a huge commitment financially-wise. You want to make sure that the living conditions will be good enough to accommodate your day-to-day needs. The worst thing you can do is rush into signing an agreement without understanding the contract terms.
Sadly, too many would-be tenants sign the dotted line without spending more than two minutes reading the contract of lease. One major reason is the common notion that it’s only for formality. This is a big mistake. Sadly, some opportunistic landlords have no qualms about taking advantage of your ignorance of the law. Heck, even contracts made in good faith can still have unpleasant surprises for people who aren’t too familiar with the process.
As a tenant from Kansas, the best way to protect yourself is to arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible about landlord-tenant laws in Kansas.
Typically, people can resolve a dispute between them without seeking help from a lawyer. It’s important if both have some bit of understanding of state-specific laws. Suppose you have to settle a dispute with the person whose house you live in. In that case, you’d be doing yourself a favor by doing extensive research about various laws.
Thankfully, we’ve got that part covered. You won’t have to spend too many hours reading up on the subject. With that said, it bears noting that this blog post is just a guide and therefore should not be treated as an authoritative source from a legal standpoint. We will provide you with an official source wherever it’s needed.
Let’s begin.
As is the case with any legal agreement, you should…
Keep a copy of the lease
A lease agreement is a legally binding contract that sets out the terms and conditions both parties must adhere to upon signing an agreement to rent. Again, you should always read the entire contract before signing the dotted line to avoid misunderstandings and inconveniences in the future. In such cases where a dispute is inevitable, being aware of the terms set in the lease agreement will help you. You’ll arrive at an informed decision and give you the foreknowledge to avoid legal missteps you might otherwise regret.
Last but not least, make sure to have your copy of the lease agreement and store it in a secure location.
Kansas Tenant’s and Landlord’s Responsibility and Rights
| Tenant’s Responsibility and Rights | Landlord’s Responsibility and Rights |
| You are required by law to pay their rent on time. | They should provide maintenance to all areas that are shared with tenants, including hallways and facilities. |
| If the tenant has no choice but to pay late, the landlord must approve the late payment in writing before it becomes legally valid. | They should supply sufficient heating during winter and air conditioning during the summer months. |
| Before renting, tenants have the responsibility to file their own applications and to do their own research. | Smoke detectors must be supplied to safeguard against fire hazards. |
| You have the responsibility to keep the unit clean and free from damage. | They must supply adequate amounts of hot and cold water. |
| A tenant must inform the landlord ahead of time if he or she is leaving for an extended period. This prevents the unit from being rented to somebody else or from being abandoned. | Trash bins and trash disposal must be provided and managed regularly. |
| You must comply with all policies explicitly stated in the lease agreement. | Regular maintenance should be carried out to all plumbing and heating facilities. Electrical and refrigeration should be handled as well. |
| Do not make renovations or changes to the property without the landlord’s consent. | Any appliances must be regularly maintained and kept safe. |
| You should not let other people live in the unit unless relevant terms are changed in the lease contract. | Proper accommodations must be made for persons with disabilities. |
| You can invite in guests but are responsible for their behavior. | |
| You must report any damages to the landlord immediately. |
As a tenant residing in Kansas, you’re duty-bound to be aware of your rights and responsibilities as a citizen of the state. More to the point, as a tenant. Here’s a list of all the responsibilities and rights of someone living in Kansas. Refer to the official Kansas Landlord-Tenant Law Book to get the full list.
Landlords have responsibilities and rights to maintain and uphold after signing an agreement to give tenancy to an individual. Refer to the official Kansas Landlord-Tenant Law Book to get the full list.
Landlords have responsibilities and rights to maintain and uphold after signing an agreement to give tenancy to an individual. Refer to the official Kansas Landlord-Tenant Law Book to get the full list.
Rules that must be outlined in the lease agreement in Kansas
Here are essential rules that must be outlined in the lease to ensure that rent payments will proceed as planned:
- How much is the rent? Under Kansas laws, there are no restrictions on how much you can be charged.
- Where should the payment be made?
- How should it be paid?
- When is it due?
- How much notice should be given before a landlord can increase the rent?
- What are the consequences of late payments (late fees & rules on lease termination)?
- How much time does a tenant need to pay rent before being evicted?
Disclosures
Before signing a lease agreement, one important thing to keep in mind is to check on the disclosures the landlord has specified in the legal document. Doing this can save you a lot of time when figuring out when or whether you should make a dispute.
Such disclosures include:
- Security deposits. Most landlords will require a security deposit from a potential tenant before they allow you to move in. Before you agree to pay a security deposit, make sure that you check on the terms and conditions. It includes how long he can hold it and whether the landlord will pay interest on the deposit. It also includes which circumstances will require them to return the deposit when a tenant vacates the property.
- Move-in checklist of existing damages to the property. A move-in checklist is a list that records the condition of your property. By providing such a list, a landlord can make the tenant accountable for damages while residing in the property.
- A clause on whether there will be nonrefundable fees
- Installation details
- Presence of potential health hazards, including lead-based paint and mold. It also includes asbestos and insects.
- Smoking policy
- A recent occurrence of flooding inside and outside the property.
- Whether lead-based paint was used on the property. If the property was built before 1978, you can confirm the presence of lead by using lead paint test kits. You can purchase lead paint testing kits in bulk to confirm the presence of lead-based paint in the entire property. Protect themselves and their tenants, although it should ideally be encapsulated or removed.
- A recent presence of a methamphetamine lab at the property
For a complete list of disclosures required by Kansas Law, see Kansas Required Landlord Disclosures.
Security deposits
Most require a tenant to pay a security deposit before allowing him to occupy a designated space in the property. Which is fair, right? After all, the landlord needs to be compensated if a tenant causes any damage to the property.
While paying a security deposit is considered good practice, tenants must also protect their assets from unscrupulous tenants. As such, Kansas law has put limitations on the amount landlords can charge for security deposits. For instance, Kansas law dictates that they can only charge a maximum of one month’s rent if the property is unfurnished. In contrast, one and one-half month’s worth of charge is made if the residence is furnished. If the tenant moves in with pets, the tenant will require an additional deposit. Kansas law also requires the landlord to return the deposit not more than 30 days after the tenant has moved in.
To learn more about Kansas’s laws on security deposit limits, click here.
