Living in a rented apartment is a breeze, as there aren’t
as many things you need to worry about as in your own home. Mostly, the only
problem in a rental are some unforeseen circumstances like damage, broken
devices, pests, mould, and things like that.
Naturally, the very fact that these things happen is not the
biggest issue, as all of it can be dealt with patience and effort. The real
problem lies in the fact that most people don’t know whose responsibility each
of these problems is.
Do you have to fix the problems or is it the landlord’s
duty? Each problem is unique, and only one of you is responsible for it. Let’s
take a better look at who is in charge of each issue.
Which Problems are the Landlord’s Responsibility?
You want to be a great tenant, but you also want to know what
obligations your landlord has towards you, as it shouldn’t all be on you.
In general, most of the repairs needed in the unit fall to
the landlord’s domain. They are the ones responsible for them.
That means that the landlord has to fix anything doesn’t work correctly anymore, or replace the
things that are completely broken. The rule naturally applies only to
everything that came with the place – the unit itself, appliances like the
fridge or the stove, and more.
It doesn’t matter what the contract says, as this has to do
with the law in Canada that states that these things are the landlord’s
responsibility.
All of this means that the landlord needs to worry about the
repairs and maintenance of additional things like:
●
The plumbing, heating,
and electricity
●
Everything in the
common areas of the building
●
All infestations like bugs,
rats, etc.
●
Serious mould issues
Of course, if the agreement you have with the landlord
mentions something else that’s their responsibility, then it is, and you should
refer to it to find out.
Which Problems are the Tenant’s Responsibility?
The landlord makes most repairs and changes, but small replacements like changing the
lightbulbs are the tenant’s responsibility. As long as it’s something that can
be done quickly and easily by the tenant, it’s your responsibility, but if it
requires some special handling and assistance from others, then it isn’t.
Any routine maintenance or cleaning is naturally the
tenant’s responsibility. Also, if you do any minor damage during your stay –
it’s you who has to take care of it, as well as minor mould issues. When it
comes to some more significant damage, as long as you cause it, it’s still up
to you to fix it.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that it’s up to you to
maintain outside areas that are exclusively used by you. If others use it, then
it’s no longer your responsibility.
It’s worth noting that you need to respect anything
mentioned in the agreement, as long as it is according to the law.
If any problems do occur, it’s always
good to talk with your landlord and have an open discussion, because as long as
a positive relationship is maintained, everything will work out well. It can
even happen that the landlord goes out of their way to help you because you’re
a great tenant!
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