Which disclosures must a Kentucky lease include?
Kentucky landlord-tenant law is governed by Kentucky's URLTA (KRS Chapter 383, in jurisdictions that adopted it). The core disclosures a Kentucky landlord must give at or around lease signing:
| Disclosure | Authority | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit account | KRS 383.580 | URLTA jurisdictions |
| Move-in damage list | KRS 383.580 | Before collecting a deposit |
| Lead-based paint hazard + EPA pamphlet | Title X (federal) | Housing built before 1978 |
The main Kentucky lease disclosures
Security deposit account (KRS 383.580): the landlord must hold the deposit in a separate account and disclose the account's location and the account number to the tenant
Additional Kentucky disclosures
Move-in damage list (KRS 383.580): the landlord must give the tenant a signed written list of existing damage before collecting the deposit
Federal lead-based paint disclosure
For older housing this is the one disclosure no Kentucky landlord can skip. If the dwelling predates 1978, Title X (42 U.S.C. § 4852d) requires a signed lead-warning disclosure, disclosure of any known lead hazards, delivery of any available records, and the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home. Non-compliance carries civil penalties and, in egregious cases, criminal ones.
What happens if a Kentucky landlord skips a required disclosure?
Consequences depend on the disclosure:
- Failing to keep the deposit in a separate account or to provide the move-in list forfeits the landlord's right to keep any part of the deposit (KRS 383.580).
- Kentucky's URLTA applies only in cities and counties that adopted it; elsewhere common law governs.
- A federal lead-paint violation carries civil and, in egregious cases, criminal penalties plus tenant damages.
For the full set of Kentucky lease rules, see What Must a Kentucky Lease Agreement Include. Managing rentals in more than one state? Compare Kentucky's list with our Texas and Illinois disclosure checklists, and see the baseline in What Every Residential Lease Agreement Must Include.
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Create your Kentucky lease agreement →Frequently asked questions
What disclosures are required in a Kentucky lease?
A Kentucky lease must include security deposit account; move-in damage list (KRS 383.580; KRS 383.580), plus the federal lead-based paint disclosure for pre-1978 housing.
Does Kentucky require a security deposit account disclosure?
Yes. the landlord must hold the deposit in a separate account and disclose the account's location and the account number to the tenant (KRS 383.580).
Does Kentucky require a move-in damage list disclosure?
Yes. the landlord must give the tenant a signed written list of existing damage before collecting the deposit (KRS 383.580).
Does Kentucky require a lead-paint disclosure?
Yes, for pre-1978 housing. This is a federal requirement: the signed lead-warning disclosure, known records, and the EPA pamphlet.
Official sources
Primary statutes and official government references for this guide. Statutes change — always confirm against the current official text before you act.