Kansas Landlord-Tenant Law
The rules for renting in Kansas — security deposits, eviction, ending a lease, repairs and rent — with the statute or official page behind every answer.
Quick answers for Kansas
- Security deposit limit
- Unfurnished unit: one month's rent. Furnished: 1.5 months' rent. If pets are allowed, an additional pet deposit of up to one-half month's rent. K.S.A. 58-2550(a)
- Deposit return deadline
- Balance due within 14 days after the landlord determines deductions, and in no event more than 30 days after termination of tenancy, delivery of possession and the tenant's demand. If the tenant makes no demand within 30 days, the landlord must mail the amount due to the tenant's last known address. K.S.A. 58-2550(b)
- Notice for unpaid rent
- 3 days' written notice to pay or the lease terminates (three consecutive 24-hour periods from delivery or posting; add 2 days if mailed). Before filing, a 3-day notice to leave the premises is also required; it may be combined with the RLTA notice. K.S.A. 58-2564(b); K.S.A. 61-3803
- Ending a month-to-month lease
- Either party: written notice terminating on a periodic rent-paying date at least 30 days after receipt. Week-to-week: at least 7 days. Tenants on military orders need give no more than 15 days' notice. K.S.A. 58-2570(a)-(b)
- Landlord entry notice
- Landlord may enter at reasonable hours after reasonable notice to inspect, repair, supply services, or show the unit; may enter without consent in an extreme hazard involving potential loss of life or severe property damage; may not abuse access to harass. K.S.A. 58-2557
- Rent control / increase limits
- Preempted: no county, city, township or other political subdivision may enact, maintain or enforce rent control on privately owned residential or commercial property (voluntary incentive agreements excepted). K.S.A. 12-16,120
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-22
Security Deposits in Kansas
| Security deposit limit | Unfurnished unit: one month's rent. Furnished: 1.5 months' rent. If pets are allowed, an additional pet deposit of up to one-half month's rent. Federally subsidized municipal housing authorities may use a bedroom-size schedule with a deferred payment plan. Source: K.S.A. 58-2550(a) |
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| Deposit return deadline | Balance due within 14 days after the landlord determines deductions, and in no event more than 30 days after termination of tenancy, delivery of possession and the tenant's demand. If the tenant makes no demand within 30 days, the landlord must mail the amount due to the tenant's last known address. Source: K.S.A. 58-2550(b) |
| Itemized deductions | Deductions for accrued rent and damages from the tenant's noncompliance must be itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant. Tenant may not use the deposit as last month's rent unless the lease allows; doing so forfeits the deposit (58-2550(d)). A move-in inventory must be made within 5 days of the start of the lease (K.S.A. 58-2548). Source: K.S.A. 58-2550(b) |
| Interest on deposits | No statute requires interest on security deposits. The deposit statute contains no interest provision. Source: K.S.A. 58-2550 |
| Penalty for withholding | The deposit due plus damages equal to 1.5 times the amount wrongfully withheld. Source: K.S.A. 58-2550(c) |
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Eviction in Kansas
| Notice for unpaid rent | 3 days' written notice to pay or the lease terminates (three consecutive 24-hour periods from delivery or posting; add 2 days if mailed). Before filing, a 3-day notice to leave the premises is also required; it may be combined with the RLTA notice. 61-3803: https://www.kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/laws/061_000_0000_chapter/061_038_0000_article/061_038_0003_section/061_038_0003_k/ |
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| Notice for lease violations | Written notice that the lease will terminate on a date at least 30 days after receipt unless the breach is remedied within 14 days. If the same or a similar breach recurs after the 14-day period, the landlord may give a 30-day termination notice with no opportunity to cure. Source: K.S.A. 58-2564(a) |
| Lockouts & utility shutoffs | If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant or willfully interrupts electric, gas, water or other essential services, the tenant may recover possession or terminate the lease and recover the greater of 1.5 months' rent or actual damages. Landlord may not recover or take possession except through court action, abandonment, or surrender (K.S.A. 58-2569, not fully reviewed). Source: K.S.A. 58-2563 |
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Notice to Vacate in Kansas
| Ending a month-to-month lease | Either party: written notice terminating on a periodic rent-paying date at least 30 days after receipt. Week-to-week: at least 7 days. Tenants on military orders need give no more than 15 days' notice. Landlord-provided move-out forms that add terms not in the lease must carry a boldface warning or the added terms do not bind the tenant (58-2570(e)). Source: K.S.A. 58-2570(a)-(b) |
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Landlord Entry in Kansas
| Landlord entry notice | Landlord may enter at reasonable hours after reasonable notice to inspect, repair, supply services, or show the unit; may enter without consent in an extreme hazard involving potential loss of life or severe property damage; may not abuse access to harass. No specific number of hours is set. Remedies for unlawful entry or refused access are in K.S.A. 58-2571. Source: K.S.A. 58-2557 |
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Repairs & Habitability in Kansas
| Repair and deduct | No statutory repair-and-deduct remedy. Tenant may give written notice and terminate (on a rent date at least 30 days later) if the landlord does not begin a good-faith remedy within 14 days, and may sue for damages and injunctive relief. 2026 bills HB 2665 / SB 370 proposing changes to 58-2559 are listed as introduced only on the Legislature page. Source: K.S.A. 58-2559 |
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| Withholding rent | No statutory right to withhold rent. In a nonpayment possession action the tenant must assert any counterclaim or it is waived; the court may order rent paid into court. Source: K.S.A. 58-2561 |
| Retaliation protection | Landlord may not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services after a tenant complains to a code-enforcement agency about a health/safety violation, complains to the landlord about a K.S.A. 58-2553 violation, or organizes or joins a tenants' union. Remedies: those in K.S.A. 58-2563 (recover possession or terminate, plus the greater of 1.5 months' rent or actual damages) and a defense to eviction. No statutory presumption period. Good-faith rent increases to cover higher taxes, utility rates or operating costs are allowed; landlord may still evict for rent default or tenant-caused code violations. Source: K.S.A. 58-2572 |
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Rent Increases & Late Fees in Kansas
| Rent control / increase limits | Preempted: no county, city, township or other political subdivision may enact, maintain or enforce rent control on privately owned residential or commercial property (voluntary incentive agreements excepted). Amended 2016. Local governments may not require rent-control agreements as a condition of building permits or zoning approvals. Source: K.S.A. 12-16,120 |
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| Late fees | No statutory cap or grace period. Rental agreement terms are set by the parties within the Act's limits (K.S.A. 58-2545); no section of the Act regulates late fees. |
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Breaking a Lease in Kansas
| Ending a lease: domestic violence | A 'protected person' (someone who in the preceding 12 months has been, is, or is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking) is not liable for rent after vacating if they give the landlord a statement about the abuse. If the landlord asks, they must provide documentation: either a document signed by the victim and a licensed physician, physician assistant, nurse, or behavioral-sciences licensee declaring under penalty of perjury that the incident occurred, or a court order granting relief. Rent and other amounts owed before move-out remain due. The landlord may charge a reasonable termination fee of up to one month's rent only if the lease provides for it. The lease continues for remaining tenants. Rights cannot be waived; violations carry $1,000 statutory damages plus attorney fees. No minimum advance-notice period is stated; it works as a release of post-move-out rent and an affirmative defense to a rent suit. |
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| Ending a lease: military, medical, death | Military: a tenant in U.S. military service may end a month-to-month tenancy on not more than 15 days' written notice when military orders require it. No state statute was found for medical reasons, seniors moving to care, or tenant death. Fixed-term leases are governed by the federal SCRA. Source: K.S.A. 58-2570(b) |
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Squatters & Abandoned Property in Kansas
| Squatters / unauthorized occupants | Removal of Squatters Act (2026). A squatter is someone occupying a dwelling who is not entitled to occupy it under a lease or rental agreement and lacks a tenant's authorization (periodic holdover tenants are excluded). The owner or agent posts a notice at the unit that the occupant has no right to stay and must vacate immediately (giving the address where the affidavit will be delivered), then delivers a notarized affidavit to the county law enforcement agency stating: affiant is the owner/agent; a person entered and remains unlawfully; the person was not authorized to enter; is not a tenant or holdover tenant; was asked to leave and has not; and is not the owner's immediate family member. After verifying ownership and at least 24 hours after receiving the affidavit, an officer serves a notice to vacate immediately (hand delivery or posting), may charge up to $50, and tries to identify all occupants. A knowingly false affidavit is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. A wrongfully removed person may sue the affiant for restored possession, actual costs and damages, punitive damages of three times the fair market rent, and attorney fees. Squatter occupancy is excluded from the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, so no eviction case is required. In effect since July 1, 2026 (publication in the statute book; approved April 6, 2026). Codified at K.S.A. 2026 Supp. 58-5401 to 58-5407. Officers and agencies are immune for good-faith actions. |
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| Belongings left behind | If the tenant abandons or surrenders the unit, or is removed by a forcible detainer judgment, and leaves personal property, the landlord may take possession and store it at the tenant's expense and may sell or dispose of it after 30 days, provided that at least 15 days before the sale the landlord publishes once in a county newspaper a notice of intent to sell/dispose, and within 7 days after publication mails a copy to the tenant's last known address. The notice must state the tenant's name, a brief description of the property, and the approximate sale/disposal date. Until sale, the tenant may redeem by paying the landlord's reasonable taking/holding/sale-prep costs and amounts owed. Proceeds go first to those expenses, then to amounts the tenant owes; the landlord may keep any balance. Abandonment may be presumed if the tenant is 10 days behind on rent and has removed a substantial portion of belongings, unless the tenant notifies otherwise. Protects the landlord except against a secured creditor who gave notice before the sale. Source: K.S.A. 58-2565(b), (d)-(f) |
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Rental Fees in Kansas
| Application / screening fees | No statute — the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (K.S.A. 58-2540 et seq.) sets no cap, refund rule, or reusable-report rule for application or screening fees. |
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| Other rental fees | No statute — no general limit or disclosure rule for other rental fees was found in the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. The DV early-termination fee is separately capped at one month's rent (K.S.A. 58-25,137(e)). |
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Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel in Kansas
| Section 8 / source of income | No. The Kansas Act Against Discrimination's housing section covers race, religion, color, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, and ancestry only; source of income and housing vouchers are not protected statewide. Whether state law preempts local source-of-income ordinances was not checked. Source: K.S.A. 44-1016 |
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| Eviction record sealing | Yes, by petition (new in 2026). A defendant in a residential (RLTA) eviction case may file electronically, at no cost, for expungement under the case number, serving the landlord by return-receipt delivery. The landlord has 30 days to object (then a hearing); without objection the court decides without a hearing and money judgments are presumed satisfied. The court must grant expungement if 3 years have passed since judgment, any money judgment from the tenancy is satisfied, and the tenant has had no other residential eviction judgment in those 3 years (a later judgment delays expungement of the earlier one). Cases with an unsatisfied money judgment are expunged only if both parties agree. Expungement does not erase the debt; public housing authorities may still obtain 3-year eviction history for federal assistance applicants. The Judicial Council is to create a form. In effect since July 1, 2026 (publication in the statute book; approved April 9, 2026; 2026 Kan. Sess. Laws ch. 132). Codified at K.S.A. 2026 Supp. 61-3809. The same act requires courts to consider mediation in RLTA eviction cases (K.S.A. 61-3806(c)) and allows up to a 14-day continuance for mediation (61-3807(b)(2)). |
| Right to a lawyer in eviction | No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases was found. The 2026 eviction reform (Sub. for HB 2357) added expungement and court consideration of mediation, not appointed counsel. |
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Mold, Pests, Heat & AC in Kansas
| Mold | No statute — Kansas has no mold-specific landlord-tenant law. Mold is handled under the landlord's duty to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to maintain plumbing, sanitary, and ventilating systems in good and safe working order. Tenants must keep their part of the premises as clean and safe as conditions permit (K.S.A. 58-2555(b)). Duties do not apply when prevented by an act of God, utility failure, or conditions beyond the landlord's control. Source: K.S.A. 58-2553(a)(1), (3) |
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| Pests & bed bugs | No statute — Kansas does not specifically assign pest or bed-bug treatment and has no bed-bug disclosure rule. Infestations fall under the landlord's code-compliance duty; tenants must keep their unit clean and remove garbage and waste in a clean and safe manner, and are responsible for damage they or their guests or animals cause. Local housing codes may assign extermination duties. |
| Heat | Yes. The landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or the heat or hot water comes from equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating appliances the landlord supplies must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set by state statute. The tenant still pays utilities if the lease so provides. In buildings with no more than four households, the parties may agree in writing, in good faith, that the tenant supplies heat and hot water (K.S.A. 58-2553(b)). Source: K.S.A. 58-2553(a)(3), (5) |
| Air conditioning | No duty to install air conditioning and no maximum indoor temperature. Air-conditioning appliances supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord must be maintained in good and safe working order. Tenants must use A/C equipment in a reasonable manner (K.S.A. 58-2555(e)). Source: K.S.A. 58-2553(a)(3) |
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Privacy, Guests & Animals in Kansas
| Cameras & privacy | No landlord-specific statute. Kansas' breach-of-privacy law makes it a crime to enter to secretly listen to or observe people in a private place, to install or use inside or outside a private place a device to hear or record sounds not ordinarily audible there without the occupants' consent (class A misdemeanor), and to use a camera to record a person who is nude, in a state of undress, or under clothing without consent where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy (felony). Landlords may enter only at reasonable hours after reasonable notice (except extreme hazards) and may not use access to harass. K.S.A. 21-6101 was amended in 2024 and 2025 (adding AI-altered images to the dissemination offense). Exterior or common-area video-only cameras are not specifically regulated. |
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| Guests & occupants | No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits, and roommates. Tenants are responsible for damage and disturbances caused by anyone (or any animal) on the premises with their express or implied permission. Occupancy limits come from local codes and fair-housing standards. Source: K.S.A. 58-2555(f), (g) |
| Service & support animals (state law) | Kansas has no statute specific to emotional support animals in housing. By statute, a person with a guide, hearing assistance, or service dog (a dog specially selected, trained, and tested) has the right to be accompanied by it in acquiring and using rental housing without an extra charge, but is liable for damage the dog causes. A dog present only for comfort, protection, or personal defense is not an assistance dog under state law. Falsely claiming the right to be accompanied by an assistance dog in the places listed in K.S.A. 39-1101, or claiming a disability to acquire an assistance dog, is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. ESA requests are handled under federal and state fair-housing reasonable-accommodation rules. Guide dogs (39-1102), hearing assistance dogs (39-1107, amended 2022) and service dogs (39-1108) each carry the same rental-housing right. A pet deposit (up to one-half month's rent) is allowed only where the lease permits pets (K.S.A. 58-2550(a)); federal law generally bars pet deposits for assistance animals. |
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How eviction works in Kansas
Eviction cases are heard in: Kansas District Court (limited actions) in the county where the property is located.
- Serve the RLTA notice (3-day nonpayment, 14/30-day lease violation, or 30-day month-to-month) and a 3-day notice to leave the premises (may be combined)
- File an eviction petition describing the premises and grounds
- Summons sets an appearance date 3 to 14 days after issuance; tenant must appear or file a written answer by that date
- For RLTA tenancies, the court must consider mediation (continuance of up to 14 days while mediating), effective July 1, 2026
- Trial, if needed, within 14 days after the appearance date; judgment
- Writ of restitution issued at landlord's request and executed within 14 days by the sheriff or authorized process server
Appearance/answer date 3 to 14 days after summons issues; trial within 14 days after the appearance date.
What surprises people about Kansas rental law
- Starting July 1, 2026, tenants may ask the court to expunge eviction records 3 years after judgment if any money judgment is satisfied and no new eviction judgment was entered; courts must also consider mediation in RLTA evictions (2026 Sub. for HB 2357; Kansas courts self-help Housing page)
- A landlord who wrongfully withholds a deposit owes the deposit plus 1.5 times the amount withheld (K.S.A. 58-2550(c))
- Landlord and tenant must jointly inventory the unit within 5 days of move-in (K.S.A. 58-2548)
- Small claims limit rose to $10,000 in 2024 (K.S.A. 61-2703, L. 2024 ch. 22)
- Lease violations get a 14-day cure period and a 30-day termination date, longer than many states (K.S.A. 58-2564(a))
- Local rent control is banned, including as a condition of zoning or permit approvals (K.S.A. 12-16,120)
Federal law that also applies in Kansas
These federal rules apply on top of Kansas law, mostly to discrimination, servicemembers, survivors and federally assisted housing:
- Fair Housing Act: protected classes, covered housing and exemptions: Save every listing, text and email. A discriminatory ad is illegal even when the landlord's unit is otherwise exempt. More
- Assistance animals (service and emotional support animals) in housing: Ask for the accommodation in writing, keep a copy, and if a disability or the need for the animal is not obvious, offer reliable documentation of it. More
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: ending a lease early: Deliver the notice and orders by a method you can prove, such as certified mail with return receipt, and keep copies. More
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: eviction protection: Tell the court in writing that you or your spouse are on active duty and ask for an SCRA stay. More
- VAWA housing protections: Ask the landlord or housing authority for its VAWA emergency transfer plan and request a transfer in writing. More
- CARES Act 30-day notice to vacate (covered dwellings): If your building has a federally backed mortgage or federal subsidy and you received less than 30 days' notice to vacate, raise the CARES Act as a defense. More
- HUD 30-day nonpayment notice (public housing and project-based Section 8): If you pay the full amount listed in the notice within 30 days, the landlord cannot file for eviction over that rent. More
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) basics for private landlords: If a voucher landlord asks for 'side payments' above your share of the rent, refuse and report it to your PHA. More
- Lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978 housing): If your pre-1978 lease came with no lead disclosure form and pamphlet, ask for them in writing before signing. More
- FCRA tenant screening: adverse action notices and disputes: Request your free report from the screening company within 60 days of a denial and dispute any errors in writing with supporting documents. More
- Rental 'junk fee' rulemaking and enforcement (FTC/CFPB): Before paying an application fee, ask in writing for the total monthly cost including every mandatory fee. More
- Federal eviction moratoria: Check your state and city rules, since any eviction pause now comes from local, not federal, law. More
City rules in Kansas
These cities add their own tenant protections on top of state law:
Eviction by county in Kansas
Which court hears evictions, filing fees, local rent levels and help:
For landlords
How to evict a tenant in Kansas — steps, cost, timeline and forms.
Common Kansas questions
- Can a landlord enter without notice or permission?
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?
- Can a landlord evict you without going to court, change the locks or shut off utilities?
- Can I withhold rent for repairs?
- How long does an eviction take?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before an eviction?
- Can a landlord raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give to end a lease or not renew?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late fee?
- Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining?
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit?
- How long does a landlord have to sue for unpaid rent or damages?
- Can a landlord accept rent during an eviction?
- Can you be evicted in the winter?
- Can a landlord give an eviction notice by text or email?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent?
- Does a landlord have to give you a copy of the lease?
- What happens to tenants if the landlord goes into foreclosure?
- How long does a landlord have to keep a tenant's belongings?
- How do you remove a squatter?
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
- Can I break my lease because of domestic violence?
- Can I break my lease for military orders, medical reasons or a death?
- Can a landlord refuse Section 8?
- Can an eviction be removed from your record?
- Do tenants get a free lawyer for an eviction?
- What are my rights without a written lease?
- Does a landlord have to fix mold?
- Who pays for pest control and bed bugs in a rental?
- Does a landlord have to provide heat?
- Does a landlord have to provide air conditioning?
- What can a landlord charge for at move-out (cleaning, painting, carpet)?
- Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental?
- Can a landlord limit overnight guests or roommates?
- Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
Free calculators
- Notice Deadline Calculator
- Security Deposit Deadline Calculator
- Late Fee Checker
- Rent Increase Calculator
How Kansas compares to neighboring states
| State | Security deposit limit | Deposit return deadline | Notice for unpaid rent |
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| Kansas | Unfurnished unit: one month's rent. Furnished: 1.5 months' rent. If pets are allowed, an additional pet deposit of up to one-half month's rent. K.S.A. 58-2550(a) | Balance due within 14 days after the landlord determines deductions, and in no event more than 30 days after termination of tenancy, delivery of possession and the tenant's demand. If the tenant makes no demand within 30 days, the landlord must mail the amount due to the tenant's last known address. K.S.A. 58-2550(b) | 3 days' written notice to pay or the lease terminates (three consecutive 24-hour periods from delivery or posting; add 2 days if mailed). Before filing, a 3-day notice to leave the premises is also required; it may be combined with the RLTA notice. K.S.A. 58-2564(b); K.S.A. 61-3803 |
| Colorado | Two monthly rent payments. A separate pet deposit may be no more than $300 and must be refundable. Monthly pet rent may be no more than the greater of $35 or 1.5% of monthly rent. C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-106 | Within 30 days after the lease ends or the premises are surrendered, whichever is later. The lease may set a longer period, up to 60 days. C.R.S. § 38-12-103(1) (as amended by HB 25-1249) | 10-day written demand to pay rent or deliver possession. Exempt residential agreements get 5 days; employer-provided housing gets 3 days. The tenant may pay the full amount in the notice, plus any rent that has since come due, at any time until the judge enters a judgment for possession. Payment can go to the landlord or the court, and the case is then dismissed. C.R.S. §§ 13-40-104(1)(d), 13-40-106, 13-40-115(4) |
| Missouri | Landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent. RSMo 535.300.1 | Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit or send an itemized list of damages along with any remaining balance. Mailing to the tenant's last known address satisfies the duty. RSMo 535.300.3 | No fixed pay-or-quit notice period. Landlord must demand the rent; if it is unpaid, landlord may file a rent-and-possession statement. The one-month termination notice of 441.060 is not required before filing. RSMo 535.020 |
| Nebraska | One month's periodic rent (any security however labeled). A separate pet deposit of up to one-fourth of one month's periodic rent may also be charged. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 | 14 days after the tenancy terminates (balance plus written itemization delivered or mailed; if no forwarding address is given, mail first-class to the last-known address). Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1416 | 7 calendar days' written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate; landlord may terminate if rent is not paid within that time. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431(2) |
| Oklahoma | No statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit. 41 O.S. § 115 | 45 days after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered AND the tenant makes a written demand for the deposit. 41 O.S. § 115(B) | 5 days' written notice demanding payment. If rent is not paid within 5 days after the notice, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement. The demand counts as a demand for possession; no further notice to quit is required. 41 O.S. § 131 |
Kansas landlord-tenant FAQ
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Kansas?
Unfurnished unit: one month's rent. Furnished: 1.5 months' rent. If pets are allowed, an additional pet deposit of up to one-half month's rent. (K.S.A. 58-2550(a))
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Kansas?
Balance due within 14 days after the landlord determines deductions, and in no event more than 30 days after termination of tenancy, delivery of possession and the tenant's demand. If the tenant makes no demand within 30 days, the landlord must mail the amount due to the tenant's last known address. (K.S.A. 58-2550(b))
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Kansas?
No statute requires interest on security deposits. (K.S.A. 58-2550)
Does a landlord in Kansas have to give an itemized list of deposit deductions?
Deductions for accrued rent and damages from the tenant's noncompliance must be itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant. (K.S.A. 58-2550(b))
What happens if a landlord in Kansas wrongfully keeps a security deposit?
The deposit due plus damages equal to 1.5 times the amount wrongfully withheld. (K.S.A. 58-2550(c))
How much notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Kansas?
3 days' written notice to pay or the lease terminates (three consecutive 24-hour periods from delivery or posting; add 2 days if mailed). Before filing, a 3-day notice to leave the premises is also required; it may be combined with the RLTA notice. (K.S.A. 58-2564(b); K.S.A. 61-3803)
How much notice is required to evict for a lease violation in Kansas?
Written notice that the lease will terminate on a date at least 30 days after receipt unless the breach is remedied within 14 days. If the same or a similar breach recurs after the 14-day period, the landlord may give a 30-day termination notice with no opportunity to cure. (K.S.A. 58-2564(a))
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Kansas?
Either party: written notice terminating on a periodic rent-paying date at least 30 days after receipt. Week-to-week: at least 7 days. Tenants on military orders need give no more than 15 days' notice. (K.S.A. 58-2570(a)-(b))
Can a landlord enter without notice in Kansas?
Landlord may enter at reasonable hours after reasonable notice to inspect, repair, supply services, or show the unit; may enter without consent in an extreme hazard involving potential loss of life or severe property damage; may not abuse access to harass. (K.S.A. 58-2557)
Is there a limit on late fees in Kansas?
No statutory cap or grace period. (K.S.A. 58-2540 et seq. (no late-fee provision))
Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Kansas?
No statutory repair-and-deduct remedy. Tenant may give written notice and terminate (on a rent date at least 30 days later) if the landlord does not begin a good-faith remedy within 14 days, and may sue for damages and injunctive relief. (K.S.A. 58-2559)
Can a tenant withhold rent for repairs in Kansas?
No statutory right to withhold rent. In a nonpayment possession action the tenant must assert any counterclaim or it is waived; the court may order rent paid into court. (K.S.A. 58-2561)
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Kansas?
Landlord may not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services after a tenant complains to a code-enforcement agency about a health/safety violation, complains to the landlord about a K.S.A. 58-2553 violation, or organizes or joins a tenants' union. Remedies: those in K.S.A. 58-2563 (recover possession or terminate, plus the greater of 1.5 months' rent or actual damages) and a defense to eviction. No statutory presumption period. (K.S.A. 58-2572)
Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in Kansas?
Preempted: no county, city, township or other political subdivision may enact, maintain or enforce rent control on privately owned residential or commercial property (voluntary incentive agreements excepted). (K.S.A. 12-16,120)
Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in Kansas?
If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant or willfully interrupts electric, gas, water or other essential services, the tenant may recover possession or terminate the lease and recover the greater of 1.5 months' rent or actual damages. (K.S.A. 58-2563)
What is the small claims court limit in Kansas for a deposit dispute?
$10,000 (exclusive of interest and costs). (K.S.A. 61-2703(a))
How do you remove a squatter in Kansas?
Removal of Squatters Act (2026). A squatter is someone occupying a dwelling who is not entitled to occupy it under a lease or rental agreement and lacks a tenant's authorization (periodic holdover tenants are excluded). The owner or agent posts a notice at the unit that the occupant has no right to stay and must vacate immediately (giving the address where the affidavit will be delivered), then delivers a notarized affidavit to the county law enforcement agency stating: affiant is the owner/agent; a person entered and remains unlawfully; the person was not authorized to enter; is not a tenant or holdover tenant; was asked to leave and has not; and is not the owner's immediate family member. After verifying ownership and at least 24 hours after receiving the affidavit, an officer serves a notice to vacate immediately (hand delivery or posting), may charge up to $50, and tries to identify all occupants. A knowingly false affidavit is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. A wrongfully removed person may sue the affiant for restored possession, actual costs and damages, punitive damages of three times the fair market rent, and attorney fees. Squatter occupancy is excluded from the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, so no eviction case is required. (K.S.A. 2026 Supp. 58-5401 to 58-5407 (2026 Kan. Sess. Laws ch. 56, HB 2378))
What can a landlord do with a tenant's abandoned property in Kansas?
If the tenant abandons or surrenders the unit, or is removed by a forcible detainer judgment, and leaves personal property, the landlord may take possession and store it at the tenant's expense and may sell or dispose of it after 30 days, provided that at least 15 days before the sale the landlord publishes once in a county newspaper a notice of intent to sell/dispose, and within 7 days after publication mails a copy to the tenant's last known address. The notice must state the tenant's name, a brief description of the property, and the approximate sale/disposal date. Until sale, the tenant may redeem by paying the landlord's reasonable taking/holding/sale-prep costs and amounts owed. Proceeds go first to those expenses, then to amounts the tenant owes; the landlord may keep any balance. Abandonment may be presumed if the tenant is 10 days behind on rent and has removed a substantial portion of belongings, unless the tenant notifies otherwise. (K.S.A. 58-2565(b), (d)-(f))
Is there a limit on rental application fees in Kansas?
No statute — the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (K.S.A. 58-2540 et seq.) sets no cap, refund rule, or reusable-report rule for application or screening fees. (K.S.A. 58-2540 et seq. (section list checked))
What rental fees are banned or limited in Kansas?
No statute — no general limit or disclosure rule for other rental fees was found in the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. (K.S.A. 58-2540 et seq. (section list checked))
Can a domestic violence survivor break a lease in Kansas?
A 'protected person' (someone who in the preceding 12 months has been, is, or is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking) is not liable for rent after vacating if they give the landlord a statement about the abuse. If the landlord asks, they must provide documentation: either a document signed by the victim and a licensed physician, physician assistant, nurse, or behavioral-sciences licensee declaring under penalty of perjury that the incident occurred, or a court order granting relief. Rent and other amounts owed before move-out remain due. The landlord may charge a reasonable termination fee of up to one month's rent only if the lease provides for it. The lease continues for remaining tenants. Rights cannot be waived; violations carry $1,000 statutory damages plus attorney fees. (K.S.A. 58-25,137 (L. 2019, ch. 56))
When can a tenant break a lease without penalty in Kansas?
Military: a tenant in U.S. military service may end a month-to-month tenancy on not more than 15 days' written notice when military orders require it. No state statute was found for medical reasons, seniors moving to care, or tenant death. (K.S.A. 58-2570(b))
Can an eviction record be sealed or removed in Kansas?
Yes, by petition (new in 2026). A defendant in a residential (RLTA) eviction case may file electronically, at no cost, for expungement under the case number, serving the landlord by return-receipt delivery. The landlord has 30 days to object (then a hearing); without objection the court decides without a hearing and money judgments are presumed satisfied. The court must grant expungement if 3 years have passed since judgment, any money judgment from the tenancy is satisfied, and the tenant has had no other residential eviction judgment in those 3 years (a later judgment delays expungement of the earlier one). Cases with an unsatisfied money judgment are expunged only if both parties agree. Expungement does not erase the debt; public housing authorities may still obtain 3-year eviction history for federal assistance applicants. The Judicial Council is to create a form. (K.S.A. 2026 Supp. 61-3809 (Sub. for HB 2357 (2026), sec. 1))
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 vouchers in Kansas?
No. The Kansas Act Against Discrimination's housing section covers race, religion, color, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, and ancestry only; source of income and housing vouchers are not protected statewide. (K.S.A. 44-1016)
Do tenants have a right to a free lawyer in eviction cases in Kansas?
No statewide right to counsel in eviction cases was found. The 2026 eviction reform (Sub. for HB 2357) added expungement and court consideration of mediation, not appointed counsel. (K.S.A. 61-3801 et seq.; Sub. for HB 2357 (2026))
What does a Kansas notice to pay rent or quit have to include?
Written notice of nonpayment and of the landlord's intention to terminate the rental agreement if rent is not paid within 3 days. The 3 days are three consecutive 24-hour periods starting at delivery or posting when the notice is served on the tenant or on someone over 12 residing on the premises, or posted in a conspicuous place; if mailed, add 2 days from the mailing date. Before filing the eviction suit, a 3-day notice to leave the premises must also be delivered (same methods, or mailing to the premises address; weekends and holidays count), but it may be combined with the RLTA notice. (K.S.A. 58-2564(b); K.S.A. 61-3803)
What does a Kansas notice to end a month-to-month tenancy have to include?
Written notice stating that the tenancy will terminate on a periodic rent-paying date not less than 30 days after the tenant receives the notice (month-to-month); 7 days' written notice before the stated termination date for week-to-week. If a landlord gives the tenant a form to sign as the tenant's notice to vacate and it contains terms not in the lease, it must state in at least 10-point bold: 'YOUR SIGNATURE ON THIS DOCUMENT MAY BIND YOU TO ADDITIONAL TERMS NOT IN YOUR ORIGINAL LEASE AGREEMENT. IF YOUR LEASE REQUIRES YOU TO GIVE WRITTEN NOTICE OF YOUR INTENT TO VACATE, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECLINE TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND TO PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE IN ANOTHER FORM.' Otherwise the extra terms do not bind the tenant. (K.S.A. 58-2570(a), (b), (e))
What must a Kansas security deposit itemization include?
Deductions (accrued rent and damages from the tenant's noncompliance with tenant duties or the lease) must be itemized in a written notice delivered to the tenant. The balance must be returned within 14 days after the landlord determines the deductions, and no later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered, and the tenant demands the deposit; if the tenant makes no demand within 30 days, the landlord must mail the amount due to the tenant's last known address. Wrongful withholding: the amount due plus damages of 1.5 times the amount wrongfully withheld. (K.S.A. 58-2550(b), (c))
How long does a landlord have to sue for unpaid rent in Kansas?
5 years for an action on any written agreement, contract or promise, such as a written lease; 3 years for contracts, obligations or liabilities not in writing, such as an oral lease. (K.S.A. 60-511(1); K.S.A. 60-512(1))
Can a landlord accept rent during an eviction in Kansas?
Yes. If the landlord accepts late rent without reservation, or accepts non-rent performance that varies from the rental agreement, the landlord waives the right to terminate the rental agreement for that breach, unless the parties agree otherwise after the breach. Landlords commonly accept payment 'with reservation' (in writing) to keep the right to terminate. (K.S.A. 58-2566)
Can you be evicted in the winter in Kansas?
No statute — the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (K.S.A. 58-2540 to 58-2573) and the eviction statutes (K.S.A. 61-3801 et seq.) have no cold-weather or winter limit on evictions. (K.S.A. 58-2540 to 58-2573; K.S.A. 61-3801 et seq.)
Can a landlord give notice by text or email in Kansas?
The 3-day notice to leave the premises (required before filing an eviction) may be delivered by: (1) handing a written copy to the tenant; (2) leaving a copy with anyone over 12 living on the premises; (3) if no such person is found, posting it conspicuously on the premises; or (4) mailing it to the tenant at the premises address. The 3 days are counted as three consecutive 24-hour periods from delivery, posting or mailing, with 2 extra days if mailed. Weekends and holidays count. The same delivery and timing rules apply to the RLTA 3-day nonpayment notice. No statute authorizes e-mail or text service. (K.S.A. 61-3803; K.S.A. 58-2564(b))
How much notice is required for a rent increase in Kansas?
No statute — Kansas sets no specific advance notice for rent increases. A month-to-month tenancy may be ended by either party with written notice ending the tenancy on a rent-paying date at least 30 days after the notice is received; week-to-week requires 7 days. A landlord changing the rent on a periodic tenancy therefore generally gives at least that much notice. A landlord may not raise rent in retaliation for protected tenant complaints, except as § 58-2572(c) allows. (K.S.A. 58-2570(a)-(b); K.S.A. 58-2572)
Does a landlord have to give a copy of the lease in Kansas?
No statute found requiring the landlord to give the tenant a signed copy of the lease. Required: (1) at or before the tenancy starts, a written disclosure of the name and address of the property manager and of an owner or the owner's agent for legal papers, notices and demands, kept current and binding on successors (K.S.A. 58-2551); (2) within 5 days of move-in, a joint written inventory of the unit's condition and any furnishings or appliances, signed by both, with a copy given to the tenant (K.S.A. 58-2548). (K.S.A. 58-2551; K.S.A. 58-2548)
Does a landlord have to fix mold in Kansas?
No statute — Kansas has no mold-specific landlord-tenant law. Mold is handled under the landlord's duty to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to maintain plumbing, sanitary, and ventilating systems in good and safe working order. (K.S.A. 58-2553(a)(1), (3))
Who pays for pest control and bed bugs in Kansas?
No statute — Kansas does not specifically assign pest or bed-bug treatment and has no bed-bug disclosure rule. Infestations fall under the landlord's code-compliance duty; tenants must keep their unit clean and remove garbage and waste in a clean and safe manner, and are responsible for damage they or their guests or animals cause. (K.S.A. 58-2553(a)(1), (4); 58-2555(b), (c), (f))
Does a landlord have to provide heat in Kansas?
Yes. The landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or the heat or hot water comes from equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating appliances the landlord supplies must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set by state statute. (K.S.A. 58-2553(a)(3), (5))
Does a landlord have to provide air conditioning in Kansas?
No duty to install air conditioning and no maximum indoor temperature. Air-conditioning appliances supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord must be maintained in good and safe working order. (K.S.A. 58-2553(a)(3))
What can a landlord deduct from a deposit for cleaning or damage in Kansas?
Not defined by statute. Kansas' deposit law does not use the term 'wear and tear'; it allows the deposit to be applied only to accrued rent and to damages the landlord suffered from the tenant's noncompliance with the tenant's statutory duties and the lease, itemized in a written notice. The tenant's duties include responsibility for destruction, defacement, damage, impairment, or removal of any part of the premises caused by the tenant or by anyone (or any animal or pet) on the premises with the tenant's permission. (K.S.A. 58-2550(b); 58-2555(f))
Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental in Kansas?
No landlord-specific statute. Kansas' breach-of-privacy law makes it a crime to enter to secretly listen to or observe people in a private place, to install or use inside or outside a private place a device to hear or record sounds not ordinarily audible there without the occupants' consent (class A misdemeanor), and to use a camera to record a person who is nude, in a state of undress, or under clothing without consent where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy (felony). Landlords may enter only at reasonable hours after reasonable notice (except extreme hazards) and may not use access to harass. (K.S.A. 21-6101(a)(3), (4), (6); 58-2557)
Can a landlord limit guests or roommates in Kansas?
No statute — the lease governs guests, occupancy limits, and roommates. Tenants are responsible for damage and disturbances caused by anyone (or any animal) on the premises with their express or implied permission. (K.S.A. 58-2555(f), (g))
Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal in Kansas?
Kansas has no statute specific to emotional support animals in housing. By statute, a person with a guide, hearing assistance, or service dog (a dog specially selected, trained, and tested) has the right to be accompanied by it in acquiring and using rental housing without an extra charge, but is liable for damage the dog causes. A dog present only for comfort, protection, or personal defense is not an assistance dog under state law. Falsely claiming the right to be accompanied by an assistance dog in the places listed in K.S.A. 39-1101, or claiming a disability to acquire an assistance dog, is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. ESA requests are handled under federal and state fair-housing reasonable-accommodation rules. (K.S.A. 39-1102; 39-1107; 39-1108; 39-1112; 39-1113)
Official resources for Kansas
- Kansas Judicial Branch Self-Help — Eviction Information and Resources
- Kansas Judicial Branch Self-Help — Small Claims
- 2026 Sub. for House Bill 2357 (eviction expungement and mediation)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.