reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
25 DE Code § 5503. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5503. Tenant obligations relating to rental unit; waste.

§ 5503. Tenant obligations relating to rental unit; waste. A tenant shall:  (1) Comply with all obligations imposed upon tenants by applicable provisions of all municipal, county and state codes, regulations, ordinances and statutes; (2) Keep that part of the premises which the tenant occupies and uses as clean and safe as the conditions of the premises permit; (3) Dispose from the rental unit all ashes, rubbish, garbage and other organic or flammable waste, in a clean and safe manner; (4) Keep all plumbing fixtures used by the tenant as clean and safe as their condition permits; (5) Use in a reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating and other facilities and appliances in the premises; (6) Not wilfully or wantonly destroy, deface, damage, repair or remove any part of the structure or rental unit or the facilities, equipment or appurtenances thereto, nor permit any person on the premises with the tenant's permission to do any such thing; (7) Not remove or tamper with a properly functioning smoke detector installed by the landlord, including removing any working batteries, so as to render the smoke detector inoperative; (8) Not remove or tamper with a properly functioning carbon monoxide detector installed by the landlord, including removing any working batteries, so as to render the carbon monoxide detector inoperative; and (9) Comply with all covenants, rules, requirements and the like which are in accordance with §§ 5511 and 5512 of this title; and which the landlord can demonstrate are reasonably necessary for the preservation of the property and persons of the landlord, other tenants or any other person.70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;  79 Del. Laws, c. 52, §  1;
25 DE Code § 5504. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5504. Defense to an action for waste.

§ 5504. Defense to an action for waste. (a) It shall be a complete defense to any action, suit or proceeding for waste if the tenant alleges and establishes that the tenant notified the landlord a reasonable time in advance of the repair, alteration or replacement and that such repair, alteration or replacement:  (1) Is one which a prudent owner of an estate in fee simple absolute of the affected property would be likely to make in view of the conditions existing on or in the neighborhood of the affected property; or (2) Has not reduced the market value of the reversion or other interest of the plaintiff; and (3) If the conditions set forth in paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section exist, and the landlord makes a demand that the tenant posts security to protect against a failure to complete the proposed work, and against any responsibility for expenditures incident to the making of such proposed repairs, alterations or replacements as the court demands. (b) This section shall not be interpreted to bar an action for damages for breach of a written rental agreement nor bar an action or summary proceeding based on breach of a written rental agreement. 70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;
25 DE Code § 5505. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5505. Tenant's obligation relating to defective conditions.

§ 5505. Tenant's obligation relating to defective conditions. (a) Any defective condition of the premises which comes to the tenant's attention, and which the tenant has reason to believe is the duty of the landlord or of another tenant to repair, shall be reported in writing by the tenant to the landlord as soon as is practicable. The tenant shall be responsible for any liability or injury resulting to the landlord as a result of the tenant's failure to timely report such condition. (b) A tenant on whom a complaint in ejectment or an action against the premises is served shall immediately notify the landlord in writing. (c) The provisions of this section shall not apply where the landlord has actual notice of the defective condition. 70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;
25 DE Code § 5506. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5506. Tenant obligation; notice of extended absence.

§ 5506. Tenant obligation; notice of extended absence. The landlord may require in the rental agreement that the tenant notify the landlord in writing of any anticipated extended absence from the premises no later than the 1st day of such absence. 70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;
25 DE Code § 5507. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5507. Landlord remedies for absence or abandonment.

§ 5507. Landlord remedies for absence or abandonment. (a) If the rental agreement provides for notification to the landlord by the tenant of an anticipated extended absence as defined in this Code or in the rental agreement, and the tenant fails to comply with such requirement, the tenant shall indemnify the landlord for any harm resulting from such absence. (b) The landlord may, during any extended absence of the tenant, enter the rental unit as is reasonably necessary for inspection, maintenance and safekeeping. (c) Unless otherwise agreed to in the rental agreement, the tenant shall use the rental unit only as the tenant's abode. A violation of this covenant shall constitute the breach of a rule under § 5511 of this title, and shall entitle the landlord to proceed as specified elsewhere in this chapter. (d) If the tenant wrongfully quits the rental unit and unequivocally indicates by words or deeds the tenant's intention not to resume tenancy, such action by the tenant shall entitle the landlord to proceed as specified elsewhere in this chapter and the tenant shall be liable for the lesser of the following for such abandonment:  (1) The entire rent due for the remainder of the term and expenses for actual damages caused by the tenant (other than normal wear and tear) which are incurred in preparing the rental unit for a new tenant; or (2) All rent accrued during the period reasonably necessary to re-rent the premises at a fair rental; plus the difference between such fair rental and the rent agreed to in the prior rental agreement; plus expenses incurred to re-rent; repair damage caused by the tenant (beyond normal wear and tear); plus a reasonable commission, if incurred by the landlord for the re-renting of the premises. In any event, the landlord has a duty to mitigate damages. (e) If there is no appeal from a judgment granting summary possession under subsection (c) or (d) of this section, the landlord may immediately remove and store, at the tenant's expense, any and all items left on the premises by the tenant. Seven days after the appeal period has expired, the property shall be deemed abandoned and may be disposed of by the landlord without further notice or liability. 70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;
25 DE Code § 5508. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5508. Landlord remedies; restrictions on subleasing and assignments.

§ 5508. Landlord remedies; restrictions on subleasing and assignments. (a) Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the tenant may sublet the premises or assign the rental agreement to another. (b) The rental agreement may restrict or prohibit the tenant's right to assign the rental agreement in any manner. The rental agreement may restrict the tenant's right to sublease the premises by conditioning such right on the landlord's consent. Such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. (c) In any proceeding under this section to determine whether or not consent has been unreasonably withheld, the burden of showing reasonableness shall be on the landlord. 70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;
25 DE Code § 5509. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5509. Tenant obligation to permit reasonable access.

§ 5509. Tenant obligation to permit reasonable access. (a) The tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent for the landlord to enter into the rental unit in order to inspect the premises, make necessary repairs, decorations, alterations or improvements, supply services as agreed to or exhibit the rental unit to prospective purchasers, mortgagees or tenants. A tenant shall have the right to install a new lock at the tenant's cost, on the condition that:  (1) The tenant notifies the landlord in writing and supplies the landlord with a key to the lock; (2) The new lock fits into the system already in place; and (3) The lock installation does not cause damage to the door. (b) The landlord shall not abuse this right of access nor use it to harass a tenant. The landlord shall give the tenant at least 48 hours' notice of landlord's intent to enter, except for repairs requested by the tenant, and shall enter only between 8: 00 a.m. and 9: 00 p.m. As to prospective tenants or purchasers only, the tenant may expressly waive in a signed addendum to the rental agreement or other separate signed document the requirement that the landlord provide 48 hours' notice prior to the entry into the premises. In the case of an emergency the landlord may enter at any time. (c) The tenant shall permit the landlord to enter the rental unit at reasonable times in order to obtain readings of meters or appliances for measurement of utility consumption in accordance with § 5312 of this title. 70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;
25 DE Code § 5510. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5510. Landlord remedy for unreasonable refusal to allow access.

§ 5510. Landlord remedy for unreasonable refusal to allow access. (a) The tenant shall be liable to the landlord for any harm proximately caused by the tenant's unreasonable refusal to allow access. Any court of competent jurisdiction may issue an injunction against a tenant who has unreasonably withheld access to the rental unit. (b) The landlord shall be liable to the tenant for any theft, casualty or other harm proximately resulting from an entry into the rental unit by landlord, its employees or agents or with landlord's permission or license:  (1) When the tenant is absent and has not specifically consented to the entry; (2) Without the tenant's actual consent when tenant is present and able to consent; and (3) In any other case, where the harm suffered by the tenant is due to the landlord's negligence. (c) Repeated demands for unreasonable entry or any actual entry which is unreasonable and not consented to by the tenant may be treated by the tenant as grounds for termination of the rental agreement. Any court of competent jurisdiction may issue an injunction against such unreasonable demands on behalf of 1 or more tenants. (d) Every agreement or understanding between a landlord and a tenant which purports to exempt the landlord from any liability imposed by this section, except consent to a particular entry, shall be null and void. 70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;
25 DE Code § 5511. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5511. Rules and regulations; tenant obligations.

§ 5511. Rules and regulations; tenant obligations. (a) The tenant and all others in the premises with the consent of the tenant shall obey all obligations or restrictions, whether denominated by the landlord as “rules,” “regulations,” “restrictions” or otherwise, concerning the tenant's use, occupation and maintenance of the rental unit, appurtenances thereto and the property of which the rental unit is a part, if:  (1) Such obligations and restrictions promote the health, safety, quiet, private enjoyment or welfare, peace and order of the tenants; promote the preservation of the landlord's property from abuse; and promote the fair distribution of services and facilities provided for all tenants generally; and (2) Such obligations and restrictions are brought to the attention of the tenant at the time of the tenant's entry into the agreement to occupy the rental unit; and (3) Such obligations and restrictions are reasonably related to the purpose for which they are promulgated; and (4) Such obligations and restrictions apply to all tenants of the property in a fair manner; and (5) Such obligations and restrictions are sufficiently explicit in the prohibition, direction or limitation of the tenant's conduct to fairly inform tenant of what tenant must or must not do to comply; and (6) Such obligations or restrictions, if not made known to the tenant at the commencement of tenancy, are brought to the attention of the tenant and if said obligations work a substantial modifications of the lease agreement they have been consented to in writing by tenant. (b) All tenants and other guests of the premises with the consent of tenant shall conduct themselves in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of the other tenants. 70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;
25 DE Code § 5512. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5512. Rules and regulations relating to certain buildings; landlord remedies.

§ 5512. Rules and regulations relating to certain buildings; landlord remedies. Any provision of the Landlord-Tenant Code (Chapters 51 through 59 of this title) to the contrary notwithstanding, written rental agreements for the rental of single rooms in certain buildings may be terminated immediately upon notice to the tenant for a tenant's material violation of a regulation which has been given to a tenant at the time of contract or lease, and in cases where there is no written lease, either 15 days after written notice to the tenant of a breach of the covenant of quiet enjoyment of similar conduct, or 30 days after written notice for any other reason, and the landlord shall be entitled to bring a proceeding for possession where:  (1) The building is the primary residence of the landlord; and (2) No more than 3 rooms in the building are rented to tenants; and (3) No more than 3 tenants occupy such building.70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;  83 Del. Laws, c. 203, § 2;
25 DE Code § 5513. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5513. Landlord remedies relating to breach of rules and covenants.

§ 5513. Landlord remedies relating to breach of rules and covenants. (a) If the tenant breaches any rule or covenant which is material to the rental agreement, the landlord shall notify the tenant of such breach in writing, and shall allow at least 7 days after such notice for remedy or correction of the breach. This section shall not apply to late payment of rent which is covered under § 5502 of this title. (1) Such notice shall substantially specify the rule allegedly breached and advise the tenant that, if the violation continues after 7 days, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement and bring an action for summary possession. Such notice shall also state that it is given pursuant to this section, and if the tenant commits a substantially similar breach within 1 year, the landlord may rely upon such notice as grounds for initiating an action for summary possession. The issuance of a notice pursuant to this section does not establish that the initial breach of the rental agreement actually occurred for purposes of this section. (2) If the tenant's breach can be remedied by the landlord, as by cleaning, repairing, replacing a damaged item or the like, the landlord may so remedy the tenant's breach and bill the tenant for the actual and reasonable costs of such remedy. Such billing shall be due and payable as additional rent, immediately upon receipt. (3) If the tenant's breach of a rule or covenant also constitutes a material breach of an obligation imposed upon tenants by a municipal, county or state code, ordinance or statute, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement and bring an action for summary possession. (b) When a breach by a tenant causes or threatens to cause irreparable harm to any person or property, or the tenant is convicted of a class A misdemeanor or felony during the term of the tenancy which caused or threatened to cause irreparable harm to any person or property, the landlord may, without notice, remedy the breach and bill the tenant as provided in subsection (a) of this section; immediately terminate the rental agreement upon notice to the tenant and bring an action for summary possession; or do both. (c) Upon notice to tenant, the landlord may bring an action or proceeding for waste or for breach of contract for damages suffered by the tenant's wilful or negligent failure to comply with tenant's responsibilities under the preceding section. The landlord may request a forthwith summons. 70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;
25 DE Code § 5515. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5515. Landlord's remedies relating to holdover tenants.

§ 5515. Landlord's remedies relating to holdover tenants. (a) Except as is otherwise provided in this Code, whenever either party to a rental agreement rightfully elects to terminate, the duties of each party under the rental agreement shall cease. (b) Whenever the term of the rental agreement expires, as provided herein or by the exercise by the landlord of a right to terminate given the landlord under any section of this Code, if the tenant continues in possession of the premises after the date of termination without the landlord's consent, such tenant shall pay to the landlord a sum not to exceed double the monthly rental under the previous agreement, computed and pro-rated on a daily basis, for each day the tenant remains in possession for any period. In addition, the holdover tenant shall be responsible for any further losses incurred by the landlord as determined by a proceeding before any court of competent jurisdiction. 70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  3;
25 DE Code § 5517. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 55. Tenant Obligations and Landlord Remedies|§ 5517. Preference of rent in cases of execution.

§ 5517. Preference of rent in cases of execution. Liability of goods levied upon for 1 year's rent:  (1) If goods, chattels or crops of a tenant being upon premises held by the tenant by demise under a rent of money are seized by virtue of any process of execution, attachment or sequestration, the goods and chattels shall be liable for 1 year's rent of the premises in arrear, or growing due, at the time of the seizure, in preference to such process; accordingly the landlord shall be paid such rent, not exceeding 1 year's rent, out of the proceeds of the sale of such goods and chattels, before anything shall be applicable to such process. (2) The sheriff, or other officer, who sells the goods and chattels of a tenant upon process of execution, attachment or sequestration shall at least 10 days before such sale give written notice of the time and place thereof to the landlord, if residing in the county, and if not, to any known agent of the landlord in the county.25 Del. C. 1953, §  6501;  58 Del. Laws, c. 472, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  8;
25 DE Code § 5701. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 57. Summary Possession|§ 5701. Jurisdiction and venue.

§ 5701. Jurisdiction and venue. An action for summary possession in accordance with § 5702 of this title shall be maintained in the Justice of the Peace Court which hears civil cases in the county in which the premises or commercial rental unit is located. In the event that more than 1 Justice of the Peace Court in a county hears civil cases, then an action shall be maintained in the Justice of the Peace Court that possesses territorial jurisdiction over the area in which the premises or commercial unit is located. For purposes of this chapter, the term “rental agreement” shall include a lease for a commercial rental unit. 70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  4;  76 Del. Laws, c. 250, §  1;
25 DE Code § 5701A. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 57. Summary Possession|§ 5701A. Establishing territorial jurisdiction.

§ 5701A. Establishing territorial jurisdiction. In any county in which more than 1 Justice of the Peace Court location has been designated to hear civil cases, each court location shall have a geographical area assigned to it for the purpose of establishing jurisdiction over actions for summary possession. Each court location shall be located within its given territory. Pursuant to § 5701 of this title, any action for summary possession involving a residential or commercial unit within a given territory shall be maintained at the Justice of the Peace Court which has jurisdiction over the given territory. Designation of the boundaries between territories shall be accomplished by court rule. In so doing, the Court may take into account the resources of each Justice of the Peace Court location; how these resources may be utilized best in serving the public good; convenience to the public; and population and demographic information, both current and projected. 76 Del. Laws, c. 250, §  2;
25 DE Code § 5701B. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 57. Summary Possession|§ 5701B. Civil jurisdiction; bifurcated claims.

§ 5701B. Civil jurisdiction; bifurcated claims. Parties aggrieved in matters arising from a commercial lease in which summary possession is sought may split or bifurcate the cause of action and file an action for summary possession and also file a plenary action between the same parties over the same lease in another court. Such plenary actions must be commenced no later than 6 months after a final judgment is entered in the action for summary possession. 82 Del. Laws, c. 282, § 2;
25 DE Code § 5702. (2021)
2021 Delaware Code|Title 25 - Property|Chapter 57. Summary Possession|§ 5702. Grounds for summary proceeding.

§ 5702. Grounds for summary proceeding. Unless otherwise agreed in a written rental agreement, an action for summary possession may be maintained under this chapter because:  (1) The tenant unlawfully continues in possession of any part of the premises after the expiration of the rental agreement without the permission of the landlord or, where a new tenant is entitled to possession, without the permission of the new tenant; (2) The tenant has wrongfully failed to pay the agreed rent; (3) The tenant has wrongfully deducted money from the agreed rent; (4) The tenant has breached a lawful obligation relating to the tenant's use of the premises; (5) The tenant, employee, servant or agent of the landlord holds over for more than 15 days after dismissal when the housing is supplied by the landlord as part of the compensation for labor or services; (6) The tenant holds over for more than 5 days after the property has been duly sold upon the foreclosure of a mortgage and the title has been duly perfected; (7) The rightful tenant of the rental unit has been wrongfully ousted; (8) The tenant refuses to yield possession of the rental unit rendered partially or wholly unusable by fire or casualty, and the landlord requires possession for the purpose of effecting repairs of the damage; (9) The tenant is convicted of a class A misdemeanor or any felony during the term of tenancy which caused or threatened to cause irreparable harm to any person or property; (10) A rental agreement for a commercial rental unit provides grounds for an action for summary possession to be maintained; (11) Or, if, and only if, it pertains to manufactured home lots, for any of the grounds set forth in the Manufactured Home Owners and Community Owners Act, as amended; or (12) The tenant who is the sole tenant under the rental agreement has died and become the deceased sole tenant under the residential rental agreement.70 Del. Laws, c. 513, §  4;  74 Del. Laws, c. 35, §  3;  79 Del. Laws, c. 65, §  3;