Opinion ID: 2446551
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether failure by the landlord to repair and maintain a rental unit constitutes a violation of the consumer protection act's prohibitions against unfair, false, misleading or deceptive practices in trade or commerce.

Text: The appellants contend that the acts and practices of the landlords involved in this appeal constitutes unfair, false, misleading or deceptive acts or practices in violation of KRS 367.170. The acts and practices complained of constitute failure to make repairs on rental units and violations of local housing codes. This Court has already expressed the availability of a cause of action or remedy for violation of a housing ordinance or code. Absent an expression to the contrary in such code or ordinance no cause of action can be implied in favor of the tenant. The cause of action for a violation rests solely with the governmental authority. In both matters the tenant asserts that the landlord's failure to make needed repairs and his violations of the local housing code constitute unfair, false, misleading or deceptive acts. As a violation of a housing code does not create a cause of action in favor of the tenant, the failure of the landlord to comply with a housing code cannot be deceptive in the absence of an express covenant or agreement that the landlord would comply with such housing code. Likewise, in the absence of a duty or obligation to make repairs to a rental unit, the failure to make such repairs cannot be construed to constitute an unfair, false, misleading or deceptive act. Nor under the circumstances presented in the Miles v. Shauntee matter and in the absence of an implied warranty of habitability can the landlord's promises to make repairs, and his failure to do so in a manner satisfactory to the tenant, constitute an unfair, false, misleading or deceptive act unlawful under the Consumer Protection Act. A mere breach of promise does not constitute an unfair, false, misleading or deceptive act. The facts in Miles v. Shauntee indicate that the landlord made assurances of repair which were never significantly honored or fulfilled. This Court cannot hold as a matter of law that such assurances constitute unfair, false, misleading or deceptive acts declared unlawful under the Consumer Protection Act. The judgments of the Jefferson Circuit Court and the Warren Circuit Court, and the decision of the Court of Appeals, are affirmed.