Which action by a landlord could permit tenants to claim constructive eviction?

The action that allows tenants to claim constructive eviction is when a landlord fails to make necessary repairs within a reasonable timeframe, particularly a situation as critical as not repairing a furnace in the winter. Constructive eviction occurs when a landlord’s negligence or failure to maintain the property makes it uninhabitable, effectively forcing tenants to leave the premises. In this scenario, the failure to repair heating during cold months can significantly affect a tenant's living conditions, leading to discomfort and potential health risks. Therefore, it directly justifies a tenant's claim that they have been constructively evicted due to the landlord's inaction.

The sale of the leased property, assignment of leases for a loan, and refusal to renew a lease, although they may affect the relationship between the landlord and tenant, do not directly create conditions that would make the rented premises untenable or unlivable. Hence, they do not support the claim of constructive eviction in the same way that unaddressed essential repairs do.