This is a very common question, especially among tenants who are renting a property for the first time. But it’s a very pertinent question, because, before the property is rented, the owner is responsible for everything that concerns the property, but, when the property gains a tenant, the duties are divided. Therefore, today we are here to clarify the responsibility of the tenant and the owner in maintaining the property and avoid possible headaches.
In case you don’t already know, each person’s duties are set out in the Landlord-Tenant Law. Knowing this law is essential because it was created to balance the rights and duties of the owner and tenant in all matters involving the rental of a property, including its maintenance. Consequently, the Landlord-Tenant Law helps to establish a good relationship between both parties.
Here, we will clarify what the Landlord-Tenant Law says about the responsibilities of the owner and tenant in maintaining the property, in the care that each party needs to take to keep the property well maintained. We’ll also point you to housing-sustaining services that can help you keep up with things after you’ve moved into low-income housing.
What the Landlord-Tenant Law Says
The principle used by this law is that the tenant must deliver the rented property as when he rented it. To do this, we suggest keeping the property maintained, and taking care of it during the rental as if you were the owner of the property. This way, the tenant who lives there can also maintain their own comfort.
The Law also says that it is the owner’s responsibility to deliver the property to the tenant in usable conditions. To this end, the owner and real estate agency will work together to repair any damage or defect in the property that prevents its use, to avoid future problems while the tenant is occupying the property.
Below, we list the duties of each party to keep the property well-maintained during the rental period. Continue reading!
Tenant’s Responsibilities for Property Maintenance
From the moment the tenant occupies the property, they are responsible for everything that may suffer wear or damage depending on their use of the property. Here are some examples of maintenance that are the responsibility of the tenant during the rental of the subsidized housing property:
- Repair or exchange of taps, sockets, external or internal locks, replacing with a part of the same standard as the previous one;
- Repair or replacement of external plumbing: siphons, toilets, kitchen sinks and tanks;
- Replacing broken or chipped glass;
- Replacement of ceramics or tiles that are chipped during tenant use;
- Replace leaky or broken tiles and gutters during the term of the rental contract ;
- Repair or replacement of intercom and doorbell;
- Repair of electrical wiring when the problem is caused by the tenant;
- Cleaning and unblocking toilets, sinks, grease traps, sewers, drains, pipes, and external septic tanks (in the case of houses);
- Cleaning gutters that can cause serious infiltration problems in homes;
- Cleaning walls more susceptible to mold due to excess humidity.
Owner’s Responsibilities for Property Maintenance
Before renting the subsidized housing property, the owner needs to resolve any defects or defects. Only then will it be possible to deliver the property in usable conditions, as required by the Landlord-Tenant Law.
But the responsibility doesn’t stop there. Even after the tenant occupies the property, the owner still has responsibilities for maintenance involving the structure of the property, such as those highlighted below:
- Works, renovations, or improvements that interfere with the structure of the property;
- Installation of security, intercommunication, and leisure equipment;
- Decoration and landscaping expenses for common areas;
- Replace water tanks, sewage tanks, and equipment;
- Repairs and replacement of hydraulic, electrical, and sewage networks when necessary;
- Replace the light box and/or clock support pole;
- Repair damage caused to the structure by the action of time;
- Replacement of damaged circuit breakers and maintenance of the light clock and wiring.
Conclusion
The Landlord-Tenant law is not limited to what we’ve discussed in the article. There’s still more to learn regarding this in addition to other problem-solving to maintain housing stability. All this knowledge can be learned from reputable housing-sustaining services like Minnesota Home Comfort. You can also reach out to them for housing stabilization services.
