warranty of habitability

warranty of habitability

An implied promise, meaning one imposed by the law and not specifically agreed to by the parties,that the premises will be suitable for habitation in a safe and sanitary manner.It is a change from the old common law rule of caveat emptor,meaning the buyer takes at his or her own risk.The warranty applies to landlords and has been held to apply to sellers of new homes and sometimes to sellers of used homes. (Consumer protection statutes and disclosure statutes in some states expand upon the implied warranty.)