§ 18-17-301 - General definitions.
18-17-301. General definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Action" means a recoupment, counterclaim, suit in equity, and any other proceeding in which rights are determined, including without limitation an action for possession;
(2) "Building and housing codes" means any law, ordinance, or governmental regulation concerning fitness for habitation, or the construction, maintenance, operation, occupancy, use, or appearance of any premises or dwelling unit;
(3) (A) "Dwelling unit" means a structure or the part of a structure that is used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one (1) person who maintains a household or by two (2) or more persons who maintain a common household and includes landlord-owned mobile homes.
(B) Property that is leased for the exclusive purpose of being renovated by the lessee is not considered a dwelling unit within the meaning of this chapter;
(4) "Good faith" means honesty in fact in the conduct of the transaction concerned;
(5) "Landlord" means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of the premises, and it also means a manager of the premises who fails to disclose as required by this subchapter;
(6) "Organization" means a corporation, government, governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, two (2) or more persons having a joint or common interest, and any other legal or commercial entity;
(7) (A) "Owner" means one (1) or more persons, jointly or severally, in whom is vested all or part of:
(i) The legal title to property; or
(ii) All or part of the beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the premises.
(B) "Owner" includes, but is not limited to, a mortgagee in possession;
(8) "Person" means an individual or organization;
(9) "Premises" means a dwelling unit and the structure of which it is a part and facilities and appurtenances therein and grounds, areas, and facilities held out for the use of tenants generally or whose use is promised to the tenant;
(10) "Rent" means the consideration payable for use of the premises, including late charges whether payable in lump sum or periodic payments, excluding security deposits or other charges;
(11) "Rental agreement" means all agreements, written or oral, and valid rules adopted under this subchapter embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and occupancy of a dwelling unit and premises;
(12) "Roomer" means a person occupying a dwelling unit:
(A) That does not include the following facilities provided by the landlord:
(i) Toilet;
(ii) Bathtub or shower;
(iii) Refrigerator;
(iv) Stove; and
(v) Kitchen sink; and
(B) Where one (1) or more of these facilities are used in common by occupants in the structure;
(13) "Security deposit" means a monetary deposit from the tenant to the landlord to secure the full and faithful performance of the terms and conditions of the rental agreement as provided in this chapter;
(14) (A) "Single family residence" means a structure maintained and used as a single dwelling unit.
(B) Notwithstanding that a dwelling unit shares one (1) or more walls with another dwelling unit, it is a single family residence if it has direct access to a street or thoroughfare and shares neither heating facilities, hot water equipment, nor any other essential facility or service with any other dwelling unit;
(15) "Tenant" means a person entitled under a rental agreement to occupy a dwelling unit to the exclusion of others; and
(16) "Willful" means an intentional attempt to avoid obligations under the rental agreement or the provisions of this chapter.