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habitable :: legal definition


Habitable - adj. referring to a residence that is safe and can be occupied in reasonable comfort. Although standards vary by region, the premises should be closed in against the weather, provide running water, access to decent toilets and bathing facilities, heating, and electricity. Particularly in multi-dwelling buildings freedom from noxious smells, noise and garbage are included in the standard. This can become important in landlord-tenant disputes or government actions to force a landlord to make the premises livable (abatement of deficiencies). Example: if the roof begins to leak, the water goes off, the electricity shorts out or the toilet breaks, in most states the landlord has a duty to make repairs when requested or the tenant may order the repairs and deduct the cost from the rent.

See also: landlord and tenant and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

holdover tenancy :: n. the situation when a tenant of real estate cont ... to a lawsuit for unlawful detainer.
landlord and tenant :: n. the name for the area of law concerning renting ... ord lease lessee lessor rent tenant
lessee :: n. the person renting property under a written lea ... lord and tenant lease lessor tenant
lessor :: n. the owner of real property who rents it to a le ... lord and tenant lease lessee tenant
loss of use :: n. the inability to use an automobile, premises or ... ding or premises. See also: damages
month-to-month :: adj. referring to a tenancy in which the tenant pa ... e also: landlord and tenant tenancy
recoupment :: n. the right of a defendant in a lawsuit to demand ... ter, including outside the lawsuit.
security deposit :: n. a payment required by a landlord from a tenant ... lso: landlord and tenant lease rent
sublease :: n. the lease to another of all or a portion of pre ... and sublease. See also: lease rent
tenancy at sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
tenancy at will :: n. occupation of real property owned by another un ... right to occupy. See also: tenancy
Thirty-day notice :: n. a notice by a landlord to a tenant on a month-t ... e also: landlord and tenant service
three-day notice :: n. a notice to pay delinquent rent or quit (leave ... nd tenant service unlawful detainer

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - H

habeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.
habitable :: adj. referring to a residence that is safe and can ... rent. See also: landlord and tenant
habitual criminal :: n. under the statutes of many states, a person who ... r any further criminal convictions.
half blood :: 1) adj. sharing one parent only. 2) n. a half brot ... icularly Native American and white.
harass :: (either harris or huh-rass) v. systematic and/or c ... also: harassment sexual harassment
harassment :: (either harris-meant or huh-rass-meant) n. the act ... See also: harass sexual harassment
harmless error :: n. an error by a judge in the conduct of a trial w ... ar to be harmless." See also: error
head of household :: n. 1) in federal income tax law, the person filing ... n or daughter. 3) "head of family."
headnote :: n. the summary of the key legal points determined ... not the court's. See also: reports
hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial
hearsay :: n. 1) second-hand evidence in which the witness is ... t or gossip. See also: hearsay rule
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
heat of passion :: n. in a criminal case, when the accused was in an ... oing. See also: manslaughter murder
heir :: n. one who acquires property upon the death of ano ... y pretermitted heir succession will
heir apparent :: n. the person who is expected to receive a share o ... isinherited by will. See also: heir
heiress :: n. feminine heir, often used to denote a woman who ... in the "department store heiress."
heirs of the body :: n. descendants of one's bloodline, such as childre ... nal owner. See also: heir reversion
held :: v. decided or ruled, as "the court held that the c ... See also: decision judgment ruling
hereditament :: n. any kind of property which can be inherited. Th ... till found in some wills and deeds.
hidden asset :: n. an item of value which does not show on the boo ... ets on a profit and loss statement.