Landlord Vs Tenant Responsibility

If you are a landlord, leasing your property or a tenant renting a property, it can sometimes lead to unwanted maintenance and repairs and it’s not always clear who is responsible when things go wrong. Although the Tenancy Agreement protects both parties, here we make it clear what your responsibilities are.

Electrical

Tenant

The tenant is responsible for minor works, replacing items such as light bulbs, fuses, smoke alarm batteries and resetting the trip switch. For details on how to change a fuse, follow our step by step guide on how to change a fuse.

Landlord

The landlord is responsible for ensuring the property is electrically sound, for rental properties there should be an Energy Performance Certificate for the property prior to renting out, as well as an Electrical Safety check which should be completed on an annual basis. If the tenant reports a fault with lighting for example and a replacement bulb, fuse and a check of the switchboard has been completed by the tenant, then it is the landlord’s responsibility to instruct an electrician to investigate this further.

Appliances

Tenant

The tenant is responsible for appliance repairs through tenant misuse or damage. For example if a washing machine pump is blocked because of coins being left in a pocket, the tenant would have to cover the costs to unblock the pump.

Landlord

The landlord is responsible and has a due diligence to ensure the appliances they have supplied are safe, for rental properties there should be Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) completed annually to ensure the safety of appliances. In addition, any other fault through wear and tear or breakdown will need to be covered by the landlord. If it is later found that ‘tenant’ misuse’ caused the fault, costs can be recovered from the tenant. You will need a qualified contractor providing proof of tenant misuse.

Plumbing and Heating

Tenant

The tenant is responsible for blockages due to tenant misuse and any negligence or damages during the tenancy.

Landlords

The landlord is responsible for any blockage in the underground line, but again if this is found to be tenant misuse then the tenant becomes liable. If you have gas in the property for heating or cooker, it is a legal requirement that a gas safety check is completed annually by a Gas Safe Registered person, if you require this service, please contact us.

General Maintenance

Tenant

Tenants have a responsibility to maintain the general condition of the property during the course of their tenancy. In colder months relevant action should be taken to ensure the pipes to do not freezer. In addition if the property fell into a state of disrepair that could have been avoided by the tenant, then the tenant will be liable.

Landlords

Landlords are responsible for larger jobs such as boiler servicing and maintaining amenities such as baths, sinks and toilets. Landlords are also responsible for other repairs to the structure such as walls, doors, roof, windows and stairs.

If you have maintenance work that needs repair and need to know what the fault is and who is responsible, contact us today.

Alternatively, if you are a landlord looking for a reputable managing agent, we would recommend our sister company, for all types of residential property management, Seraph Property Management.