Tenant Defenses
habitability defense, retaliatory eviction defense
Rules in this category (75)
Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603
Failure to Deliver Possession. • Alabama
Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-101 to 35-9A-603
Counterclaims for Action for Possession or Rent. • Alabama
AS 34.03
Landlord's noncompliance as defense to action for possession or rent • Alaska
A.R.S. § 33-1301 et seq.
Noncompliance by the landlord • Arizona
A.R.S. § 33-1301 et seq.
Landlord's noncompliance as defense to action for possession or rent; definition • Arizona
A.R.S. § 33-303 et seq.
Denial of landlord's title by lessee in possession prohibited • Arizona
Benton Harbor, MI Code of Ordinances Ch. 20 Art. V Landlord-Tenant Code §§ 20-88 – 20-164
Tenant may terminate at beginning of term • Benton Harbor
Cal. Civ. Code
California
Cal. Civ. Code
California
Cal. Civ. Code
California
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-101 et seq.
Affirmative defense. • Colorado
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-101 et seq.
Landlord's defenses to a claim of breach of warranty - limitations on claiming a breach. • Colorado
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a
(Formerly Sec. 19-347m). Tenement receivership: Defense. • Connecticut
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a
(Formerly Sec. 19-347o). Tenement receivership: Owner's right to collect rent moneys. • Connecticut
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a
Presentation of affirmative defenses. • Connecticut
25 Del. C. ch. 57
Stay of proceedings by tenant; good faith dispute • Delaware
25 Del. C. ch. 59
Defenses • Delaware
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq.
REVIEW OF PETITION • District of Columbia
D.C. Code § 42-3301 et seq.
Exclusiveness of remedy. • District of Columbia
Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5
HOUSING PROVIDER'S NONCOMPLIANCE AS DEFENSE TO ACTION FOR POSSESSION OR RENT • Evanston
Fla. Stat. § 723.001 et seq.
Defenses to action for rent or possession; procedure. • Florida
Fla. Stat. § 83.40 et seq.
Defenses to action for rent or possession; procedure. • Florida
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521
Tenant's remedy of termination at beginning of term. • Hawaii
Iowa Code ch. 562A
Landlord’s noncompliance as defense to action for possession or rent • Iowa
Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 58-2501 et seq.
Material noncompliance by landlord; notice; termination of rental agreement; limitations; remedies; security deposit. • Kansas
Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 58-2501 et seq.
Action for possession for nonpayment of rent; counterclaim, waiver; accrued rent, payment into court; disposition; when judgment for tenant. • Kansas
14 M.R.S. §§ 6000 et seq.
Landlord's duty to mitigate • Maine
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. §§ 8-101 to 8-1006
Maryland
Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. §§ 8A-101 to 8A-1903
Maryland
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 239
Rent withholding; grounds; amount claimed; presumptions and burden of proof; procedures • Massachusetts
Minn. Stat. § 327C
DEFENSES TO EVICTION. • Minnesota
Minn. Stat. § 504B
DEFENSES. • Minnesota
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441 et seq.
Denial of entry a defense • Missouri
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441 et seq.
Immediate removal of parties other than tenant, when — immediate removal of tenant or lessee, when • Missouri
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441 et seq.
Stay of execution of eviction order, when — notification of interested parties — probationary tenancy, failure to comply results in removal of stay of execution — prior conduct actionable — compliance with probationary tenancy can result in dismissal of cause of action • Missouri
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535 et seq.
Tender of rent and costs on judgment date, effect — not bar to landlord's appeal — no stay of execution if no money judgment, exceptions • Missouri
Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-101 et seq.
Action For Nonpayment Of Rent -- Tenant's Counterclaim • Montana
Mont. Code Ann. § 70-26-101 et seq.
Notice Of Action By Third Person Served On Tenant -- Duty To Inform Landlord • Montana
Mont. Code Ann. § 70-33-101 et seq.
Action For Nonpayment Of Rent -- Tenant's Counterclaim • Montana
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1401 et seq.
Noncompliance by landlord. • Nebraska
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1401 et seq.
Landlord's noncompliance as defense to action for possession. • Nebraska
Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 118
Effect of violation of state or federal laws in proceeding for possession of dwelling. • Nevada
Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 118A
Failure of landlord to comply with rental agreement. • Nevada
Nev. Rev. Stat. ch. 118A
Failure of landlord to comply with certain requirements relating to disclosure of amount of periodic rent. • Nevada
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540
Defense to Retaliation. • New Hampshire
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540
Defenses to Violations of Fitness. • New Hampshire
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540
Hearsay Exception. • New Hampshire
N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq.
Action for possession by landlord; compliance with act • New Jersey
NMSA 47-8 — Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act
Action for counterclaim for resident. • New Mexico
N.Y. Real Prop. Acts & Proc. Law
Stay of proceeding or action for rent upon failure to make repairs • New York
N.Y. Real Prop. Acts & Proc. Law
Stay of summary proceedings or actions for rent under certain conditions • New York
N.Y. Real Prop. Acts & Proc. Law
Redemption by lessee • New York
N.Y. Real Prop. Acts & Proc. Law
Defenses • New York
N.Y. Real Prop. Acts & Proc. Law
Defense of warranty of habitability inapplicable • New York
N.Y. Real Prop. Acts & Proc. Law
Commencement; notice of petition; time and manner of service • New York
N.Y. Real Prop. Acts & Proc. Law
Defenses • New York
N.Y. Real Prop. Acts & Proc. Law
Defense of warranty of habitability inapplicable • New York
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-1 et seq.
Civil immunity. • North Carolina
N.D.C.C. §§ 47-32-01 through 47-32-05
Defense to an eviction from a mobile home park. • North Dakota
12 O.S. § 1148.1 et seq.
Cure of Default by Tenant in Following Instance • Oklahoma
Omaha, Neb., Code of Ordinances ch. 13, art. IV
Civil action for enforcement when election is made for such civil action • Omaha
ORS § 90
Tenant counterclaims in action by landlord for possession or rent. • Oregon
ORS § 90
Action to enjoin violation of ORS 90.750 or 90.755. • Oregon
S.C. Code Ann. tit. 27, ch. 40
Landlord's noncompliance as defense to action for possession or rent • South Carolina
S.C. Code Ann. tit. 27, ch. 40
Payment of rent into court • South Carolina
Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.001–92.355
EVICTION SUITS. • Texas
Tex. Prop. Code §§ 94.001–94.303
EVICTION SUITS. • Texas
Va. Code § 55.1-1200 et seq.
Noncompliance by landlord. • Virginia
Va. Code § 55.1-1200 et seq.
Landlord's noncompliance as defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent. • Virginia
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.12.010 et seq.
Relief against forfeiture. • Washington
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.010 et seq.
Payment of rent condition to exercising remedies -- Exceptions. • Washington
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.010 et seq.
Forcible entry or detainer or unlawful detainer actions -- Writ of restitution -- Answer of defendant. • Washington
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.20.010 et seq.
Payment of rent condition to exercising remedies. • Washington
W. Va. Code § 55-3A-1 et seq.
Defenses available. • West Virginia
W. Va. Code § 55-3B-1 et seq.
Defenses available. • West Virginia