58-2562 - Damage or destruction by fire or casualty; termination of rental agreement; notice; vacation of part of dwelling; reduction of rent; security deposit.

58-2562. Damage or destruction by fire or casualty; termination of rental agreement; notice; vacation of part of dwelling; reduction of rent; security deposit. (a) If the dwelling unit or premises are damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty to an extent that the use and habitability of the dwelling unit is substantially impaired, the tenant:

(1) May vacate the premises immediately and shall notify the landlord in writing within five (5) days thereafter of such tenant's intention to terminate the rental agreement, in which case the rental agreement terminates as of the date of vacating; or

(2) if continued occupancy is lawful, may vacate any part of the dwelling unit rendered unusable by the fire or casualty, in which case the tenant's liability for rent is reduced in proportion to the diminution in the fair rental value of the dwelling unit.

(b) If the rental agreement is terminated pursuant to this section, the landlord shall return that portion of the security deposit recoverable by the tenant under K.S.A. 58-2550, and accounting for rent in the event of either termination of the rental agreement or apportionment of rent shall occur as of the date of vacating.