Good morning,
I live in Montana and the summer after we moved into our rental property we discovered that the gas stove that heats our basement had a leak inside the stove. I advised my landlord of this and her reply was "it is not worth fixing" and she gave us a small portable electric heater that is supposed to heat up to 1000 feet. However, last winter it did not keep the basement (where our bedroom and family room is) very warm. This winter is predicted to be even colder than the last and I am wondering does she have to fix or replace the gas stove in the basement with something other than a small electric heater?

Thank you

Laws go by state, and generally require a certain temperature be maintainable during the winter. Check Montana.gov for landlord/tenant laws. Buy a cheap thermometer.
KIND of heat and source is not something you will find in the law.
I own my own home and have 3 little 200 watt heaters ($15 each for most of them) for use when I'm in the bathroom, at my desk, or in the kitchen. That's in addition to a warm air furnace.
A small 800 watt - 1200 watt heater is about $35. I have one and haven't used it yet. We have very high electric rates here.


Find one or two that you like online and ask the landlady if you can take them out of the rent.

As Joypulv indicated, it depends on the law of your state. But unless you have a lease the landlord probably doesn't have to upgrade it to a better heater. Next time your lease comes up for renewal, refuse to renew unless they provide heat to your satisfaction.