Final answer:
Tenants have legal remedies if landlords fail to install or rekey security devices, such as deducting costs, lease termination, or suing for damages. Landlords can defend themselves by proving compliance or tenant hindrance in fulfilling requests. Other landlord violations also offer tenant remedies including repair and deduction or legal action.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to tenants' remedies and landlords' defenses concerning the installation or rekeying of security devices in rental properties, and the broader scope of both parties' rights and responsibilities under landlord-tenant law. In apartment law, a tenant may have specific remedies if a landlord fails to install or rekey certain security devices. For instance, a remedy could include the right to install the device and deduct the cost from the rent, to terminate the lease, or to sue for damages. Defenses available to landlords might include compliance with the existing codes at the time of lease or proof of intent to install the required devices within a reasonable frame.
Tenants may also have remedies for other landlord violations beyond security concerns, such as failing to repair essential services like water or electricity or not adhering to health and safety codes. These remedies can range from withholding rent to repairing and deducting the cost, to suing for damages or injunctive relief. Landlords typically defend against these claims by demonstrating that they have fulfilled their duties or that the tenant's actions prevented compliance.
Furthermore, a landlord's defenses regarding compliance with a tenant's request to install or rekey security devices could include showing a prompt response to the request or challenging the request's validity under existing rental agreements or laws.