1. If the landlord is required by the rental agreement or this chapter to supply heat, air-conditioning, running water, hot water, electricity, gas, a functioning door lock or another essential item or service and the landlord willfully or negligently fails to do so, causing the premises to become unfit for habitation, the tenant shall give written notice to the landlord specifying the breach. If the landlord does not adequately remedy the breach, or use his or her best efforts to remedy the breach within 48 hours, except a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, after it is received by the landlord, the tenant may, in addition to any other remedy:
(a) Procure reasonable amounts of such essential items or services during the landlord’s noncompliance and deduct their actual and reasonable cost from the rent;
(b) Recover actual damages, including damages based upon the lack of use of the premises or the diminution of the fair rental value of the dwelling unit;
(c) Withhold any rent that becomes due during the landlord’s noncompliance without incurring late fees, charges for notice or any other charge or fee authorized by this chapter or the rental agreement, until the landlord has attempted in good faith to restore the essential items or services; or
(d) Procure other housing which is comparable during the landlord’s noncompliance, and the rent for the original premises fully abates during this period. The tenant may recover the actual and reasonable cost of that other housing which is in excess of the amount of rent which is abated.
2. If the tenant proceeds under this section, the tenant may not proceed under NRS 118A.350 and 118A.360 as to that breach.
3. The rights of the tenant under this section do not arise until the tenant has given written notice as required by subsection 1, except that the tenant may, without having given that notice:
(a) Recover damages as authorized under paragraph (b) of subsection 1 if the landlord:
(1) Admits to the court that the landlord had knowledge of the lack of such essential items or services; or
(2) Has received written notice of the uninhabitable condition caused by such a lack from a governmental agency authorized to inspect for violations of building, housing or health codes.
(b) Withhold rent under paragraph (c) of subsection 1 if the landlord:
(1) Has received written notice of the condition constituting the breach from a governmental agency authorized to inspect for violations of building, housing or health codes; and
(2) Fails to remedy or attempt in good faith to remedy the breach within the time prescribed in the written notice of that condition from the governmental agency.
4. The rights of the tenant under paragraph (c) of subsection 1 do not arise unless the tenant is current in the payment of rent at the time of giving written notice pursuant to subsection 1.
5. If such a condition was caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of his or her household or other person on the premises with his or her consent, the tenant has no rights under this section.
(Added to NRS by 1977, 1339; A 1985, 1416; 1987, 314; 1999, 1230; 2007, 1286; 2011, 237)
Structure Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 118A - Landlord and Tenant: Dwellings
NRS 118A.030 - "Abandoned property" defined.
NRS 118A.040 - "Action" defined.
NRS 118A.050 - "Building, housing and health codes" defined.
NRS 118A.060 - "Cause" defined.
NRS 118A.070 - "Court" defined.
NRS 118A.080 - "Dwelling" and "dwelling unit" defined.
NRS 118A.090 - "Exclude" defined.
NRS 118A.095 - "Federal worker" defined.
NRS 118A.100 - "Landlord" defined.
NRS 118A.110 - "Normal wear" defined.
NRS 118A.120 - "Owner" defined.
NRS 118A.125 - "Periodic rent" defined.
NRS 118A.130 - "Person" defined.
NRS 118A.140 - "Premises" defined.
NRS 118A.150 - "Rent" defined.
NRS 118A.160 - "Rental agreement" defined.
NRS 118A.163 - "Shutdown" defined.
NRS 118A.167 - "State worker" defined.
NRS 118A.170 - "Tenant" defined.
NRS 118A.175 - "Tribal worker" defined.
NRS 118A.190 - Notice: Definition; service.
NRS 118A.210 - Rental agreements: Payment of rent; term of tenancy; late fee.
NRS 118A.220 - Rental agreements: Prohibited provisions.
NRS 118A.230 - Rental agreements: Unconscionability.
NRS 118A.240 - "Security deposit" defined.
NRS 118A.250 - Receipts for security deposit, surety bond, rent and other payments.
NRS 118A.270 - Alternative method of disclosure.
NRS 118A.280 - Delivery of possession of premises.
NRS 118A.290 - Habitability of dwelling unit.
NRS 118A.300 - Advance notice of increase of rent.
NRS 118A.315 - Petition by landlord for relief from certain requirements relating to shutdown.
NRS 118A.320 - Rules or regulations of landlord.
NRS 118A.330 - Landlord’s access to dwelling unit.
NRS 118A.347 - Form of affidavit for written notice terminating lease due to domestic violence.
NRS 118A.350 - Failure of landlord to comply with rental agreement.
NRS 118A.355 - Failure of landlord to maintain dwelling unit in habitable condition.
NRS 118A.370 - Failure of landlord to deliver possession of dwelling unit.
NRS 118A.380 - Failure of landlord to supply essential items or services.
NRS 118A.400 - Damage or destruction of dwelling unit by fire or casualty.
NRS 118A.410 - Failure of landlord to disclose required information to tenant.
NRS 118A.450 - Abandonment of dwelling unit by tenant: Remedies; presumption.
NRS 118A.470 - Holding over by tenant.
NRS 118A.480 - Landlord’s recovery of possession of dwelling unit.
NRS 118A.500 - Tenant’s refusal to allow lawful access to dwelling unit; landlord’s abuse of access.
NRS 118A.510 - Retaliatory conduct by landlord against tenant prohibited; remedies; exceptions.
NRS 118A.530 - Effect of chapter upon rental agreements entered into before July 1, 1977.