70-33-405. Landlord's failure to maintain premises -- tenant's remedies. - Montana Statutes

     70-33-405. Landlord's failure to maintain premises -- tenant's remedies. (1) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, if there is a noncompliance with 70-33-303 affecting health and safety, the following procedures apply:
     (a) The tenant may deliver a written notice to the landlord specifying the nature of the breach and that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than 30 days after receipt of the notice if the breach is not remedied in 14 days. If the noncompliance results in a case of emergency and the landlord fails to remedy the situation within 3 working days after written notice by the tenant of the situation and the tenant's intention to terminate the rental agreement, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement. The rental agreement terminates as provided in the notice subject to the following exceptions:
     (i) if the breach is remediable by repairs, the payment of damages, or otherwise and the landlord adequately remedies the breach before the date specified in the notice, the rental agreement does not terminate by reason of the breach;
     (ii) if substantially the same act or omission that constituted a prior noncompliance of which notice was given recurs within 6 months, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement upon at least 14 days' written notice specifying the breach and the date of termination of the rental agreement;
     (iii) the tenant may not terminate the rental agreement for a condition caused by the tenant, a member of the tenant's family, or any other persons on the premises with the tenant's consent.
     (b) (i) The tenant may make repairs that do not cost more than 1 month's rent and deduct the cost from the rent if the tenant has given the landlord notice and the landlord has not made the repairs within a reasonable time. If the repair is required in a case of emergency and the landlord has not made the repairs, the tenant may have repairs made only by a person qualified to make the repairs.
     (ii) If the landlord fails to comply with the rental agreement or 70-33-303 and the reasonable cost of compliance is less than 1 month's rent, the tenant may recover damages for the breach under subsection (2).
     (2) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the tenant may recover actual damages and obtain injunctive relief for any noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or 70-33-303.
     (3) The remedy provided in subsection (2) is in addition to a right of the tenant arising under subsection (1).
     (4) If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall return all security recoverable by the tenant pursuant to Title 70, chapter 25.

     History: En. Sec. 33, Ch. 267, L. 2007.