Montana Code Annotated
Part 3. Rights and Duties of Parties
70-33-303. Landlord to maintain premises -- agreement that tenant perform duties

70-33-303. Landlord to maintain premises -- agreement that tenant perform duties. (1) A landlord shall:
(a) comply with the requirements of applicable building, housing, and health department codes materially affecting health and safety at the time of original construction;
(b) make repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition except when it is the tenant's responsibility to maintain the dwelling unit pursuant to 70-33-321;
(c) keep all common areas of the premises in a clean and safe condition;
(d) for the premises, maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord;
(e) unless otherwise provided in a rental agreement, provide and maintain appropriate receptacles and conveniences for the removal of ashes, garbage, rubbish, and other waste incidental to the occupancy of the lot and arrange for their removal; and
(f) supply running water at all times unless the lot is not required by law to be equipped for that purpose or the running water is generated by an installation within the exclusive control of the tenant.
(2) If the duty imposed by subsection (1)(a) is greater than a duty imposed by subsections (1)(b) through (1)(f), a landlord's duty must be determined by reference to subsection (1)(a).
(3) A landlord and tenant may agree in writing that the tenant is to perform the landlord's duties specified in subsections (1)(e) and (1)(f) but only if the agreement is entered into in good faith and not for the purpose of evading the obligations of the landlord.
(4) A landlord and tenant may agree that the tenant is to perform specified repairs, maintenance tasks, alterations, or remodeling only if:
(a) the agreement of the parties is entered into in good faith and not for the purpose of evading the obligations of the landlord and is set forth in a separate writing signed by the parties and supported by adequate consideration;
(b) the work is not necessary to cure noncompliance with subsection (1)(a); and
(c) the agreement does not diminish the obligation of the landlord to other tenants.
History: En. Sec. 19, Ch. 267, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 536, L. 2021.

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