- Habitability
Habitability is the conformance of a residence or
abode to the impliedwarranty of habitability. A residence that complies is said to be "habitable." It is animplied warranty or contract, meaning it does not have to be anexpress contract ,covenant , orprovision of acontract . It is acommon law right of a tenant orLegal doctrine . [ [http://www.nolo.com/definition.cfm/Term/5570D57D-E311-4D16-A2ACE7B9A578B9B1/alpha/I/ Nolo] ]In order to be habitable, such housing usually must:
* must provide shelter, with working locks
* must be heated in the winter months (typically between October 1st and March 31st in theNortheastern United States ) [In New York, see N.Y. Multiple Dwelling Law § 79.]
* must not be infested withvermin , such as mice, roaches, termites,mold , [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3898/is_200406/ai_n9435714 Mold in condominium: Negligent maintenance: Breach of warranty of habitability: Settlement: Verdict | Law Reporter | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] etc.
* the landlord stops other tenants from making too much noise (as measured by thedecibel scale),second-hand smoke , [ [http://ganshore.com/news10-06.html] ] or from sellingnarcotics
* providespotable water
* eachJurisdiction may have various rules. [ [http://www.tenant.net/Other_Areas/Penn/lvls/llt4wh.html Pennsylvania] ] [ [http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/contracts-agreements-real-estate/4094-1.html generally, United States] ] [ [http://www.dca.ca.gov/legal/landlordbook/problems.htm California] ] [ [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0012-7086(197010)2%3A1970%3A5%3C1040%3ALATIWO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-L District of Columbia] ] [ [http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/Housing/Rules/Part%20III%20Habitability.pdf Vermont (form).] ] [ [http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=10&pt=7&ch=304&rl=3 Texas] ] [ [http://foreclosuresmass.com/help/view/glossary/termid/501 Massachusetts] ]New York law
Some states, such as
New York , have given additional statutory protections in addition to those created bycaselaw . [See [http://www.oag.state.ny.us/realestate/habitability.html N.Y. Attorney General's Website] ,q.v. , and in External sources.] These statutes include:
# Lobby attendant service by aconcierge or landlord [N.Y. Multiple Dwelling Law §50-c ]
# Elevator mirrors [N.Y. Multiple Dwelling Law §51-b; NYC Admin. Code §27-2042]
# Smoke detectors [N.Y. Multiple Residence Law §15; Buffalo Code Ch. 395; NYC Admin. Code §27-2045, §27-2046]
# Window guards [NYC Health Code §131.15]
# Intercoms and self-locking doors [N.Y. Multiple Dwelling Law §50-a]
# Protection fromlead paint [NYC Health Code §173.14; ]Consequences
Violation of the warranty of habitability results in
constructive eviction , whereby thelandlord orlessor has, in effect, evicted thetenant orlessee . [ [http://www.nolo.com/definition.cfm/term/458FB18C-EC71-46F1-AAC9A2B083302857 Nolo Law] ] The tenant may remedy the problem, [See N.Y. Real Property Law §235-b.] [ [http://www.tenant.net/Other_Areas/Penn/lvls/llt4wh.html Warranty of Habitability (rev 7/96) ] ] or complain to local government authorities forremedies . [N.Y. Multiple Dwelling Law (MDL) §78 and §80; Multiple Residence Law (MRL) §174. (Note: The MDL applies to cities with a population of 325,000 or more and the MRL applies to cities with less than 325,000 and to all towns and villages; from [http://www.oag.state.ny.us/realestate/habitability.html N.Y. Attorney General's Website] .]ee also
*
Real property
*Real estate
*Implied warranty of habitability [(Note to editors: merge with this article?)]References
External links
* [http://www.oag.state.ny.us/realestate/habitability.html The Attorney General of the State of New York's page]
* [http://www.tenant.net/Other_Areas/Penn/lvls/llt4wh.html Tenant's rights]
* [http://www.tenant.net/Other_Areas/Penn/lvls/llt4wh.html Pennsylvania law - Lehigh Valley Legal Services]
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