70-33-404: Landlord's failure to deliver premises -- tenant's remedies.

(1) If the landlord fails to deliver possession of the lot to the tenant as provided in 70-33-302, rent abates until possession is delivered and the tenant may:

(a) terminate the rental agreement upon at least 5 days' written notice to the landlord and, upon termination, the landlord shall return all prepaid rent and security; or

(b) demand performance of the rental agreement by the landlord and, if the tenant elects, maintain an action for possession of the lot against the landlord or a person wrongfully in possession and recover the actual damages sustained by the tenant.

(2) If a person's failure to deliver possession is purposeful and not in good faith, an aggrieved party may recover from that person an amount of not more than 3 months' rent or treble damages, whichever is greater.