What does "constructive eviction" refer to in tenant-landlord relationships?

Constructive eviction occurs in landlord-tenant relationships when a tenant is effectively forced to leave a rental property because the landlord has failed to maintain the premises in a habitable condition or has created an environment that is unlivable. This could be due to negligence in addressing essential repairs, such as heating, plumbing, or safety issues, which violate habitability laws.

In such cases, the condition of the property is so intolerable that the tenant feels they have no choice but to vacate. Constructive eviction underscores the responsibility of landlords to uphold their end of the lease agreement by providing a livable space. The tenant can often take legal action for damages if they can prove that the landlord's actions (or inactions) directly led to their necessity to leave the property.

The other options do not accurately capture the specifics of constructive eviction; they refer to different scenarios within the tenant-landlord dynamic.