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Bill

SB 482

Requiring landlords to return the security deposit and certain portions of rent payments that would be due when a dwelling unit is condemned due to action or inaction of the landlord.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas bill requiring landlords to refund security deposits and rent when their negligence causes unit condemnation.

Died in Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 482

Legislative bill overview

SB 482 requires landlords to return security deposits and portions of rent payments to tenants when a dwelling unit is condemned as a direct result of the landlord's action or inaction. The bill establishes landlord liability for financial losses tenants incur due to code violations or maintenance failures that render the unit uninhabitable.

Why is this important

Tenants who lose housing due to landlord negligence or deliberate non-compliance currently have limited recourse to recover deposits or rent paid for uninhabitable periods. This bill addresses a gap in tenant protections by imposing financial consequences on landlords who fail to maintain habitable conditions, potentially incentivizing code compliance and reducing the number of condemned units.

Potential points of contention

  • Causation definition: The phrase "action or inaction of the landlord" is subjective and may generate disputes over whether a condemned unit resulted from landlord negligence versus external factors (natural disasters, third-party damage, tenant misuse)
  • Rent calculation complexity: Determining "certain portions of rent payments that would be due" when a unit is condemned involves questions about rent abatement periods, notice timelines, and whether tenants must mitigate by finding alternative housing
  • Landlord burden vs. tenant protection: Property owners may argue the measure creates excessive liability without accounting for emergency condemning circumstances beyond reasonable control, while advocates may counter it's necessary enforcement of existing habitability obligations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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