Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1401 et seq. § 76-1421
Tenant to maintain dwelling unit.
Operative Text
The tenant shall: (1) Comply with all obligations primarily imposed upon tenants by applicable minimum standards of building and housing codes materially affecting health or safety; (2) Keep that part of the premises that he occupies and uses as clean and safe as the condition of the premises permit, and upon termination of the tenancy place the dwelling unit in as clean condition, excepting ordinary wear and tear, as when the tenancy commenced; (3) Dispose from his dwelling unit all ashes, rubbish, garbage, and other waste in a clean and safe manner; (4) Keep all plumbing fixtures in the dwelling unit or used by the tenant as clean as their condition permits; (5) Use in a reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and other facilities and appliances including elevators in the premises; (6) Not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair or remove any part of the premises or knowingly permit any person to do so; (7) Conduct himself and require other persons on the premises with his consent to conduct themselves in a manner that will not disturb his neighbors' peaceful enjoyment of the premises; and (8) Abide by all bylaws, covenants, rules or regulations of any applicable condominium regime, cooperative housing agreement, or neighborhood association not inconsistent with landlord's rights or duties.
Nebraska Revised Statute § 76-1421 sets out a list of maintenance and conduct obligations that fall on tenants during a tenancy. These include keeping the unit clean and safe, properly disposing of waste, using building systems and appliances reasonably, avoiding deliberate or negligent damage to the property, and not disturbing neighbors. At the end of a tenancy, the tenant is expected to return the unit in roughly the same condition it was received, with an allowance for ordinary wear and tear. The provision also requires tenants to follow applicable building codes, condominium or cooperative rules, and neighborhood association regulations that do not conflict with landlord rights or duties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1421, compliant property operators typically document the condition of a unit at move-in and move-out, giving both parties a shared baseline for evaluating cleanliness and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. Landlords generally keep records of any reported violations of the tenant conduct obligations listed in this section, such as waste disposal failures, damage to fixtures, or neighbor disturbance complaints. When a property is part of a condominium regime, cooperative, or neighborhood association, operators commonly provide tenants with the relevant bylaws or rules at the start of the tenancy to support compliance with subsection (8).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1421 outlines the maintenance and behavioral responsibilities tenants carry throughout a tenancy, including keeping the unit clean, disposing of waste properly, using appliances reasonably, and avoiding damage to the premises. Tenants who believe a landlord is attempting to charge for damage that falls within normal wear and tear—which is explicitly excluded under this section—may have grounds to contest those charges through Nebraska's landlord-tenant dispute processes or by consulting a tenant-rights organization. Understanding each of the eight obligations listed in this provision can help tenants maintain their unit in a way that protects their security deposit and their standing under the lease.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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