One potential problem that occasionally arises between renters and their landlords is who has which responsibilities on all manner of maintenance issues, from changing light bulbs to fixing appliances. Ideally, the lease you’ve signed to live in an apartment or rental house should make it clear who has the responsibility for various tasks and upkeep.
Following are a few examples of issues where you’ll want to clarify designated responsibilities if the lease doesn’t make it clear.
Who Has to Do What?
• Carbon monoxide/smoke detectors. Every rental dwelling must be outfitted with certified, working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in designated areas. This could save your life, and the absence of such a detector – or one that hasn’t been tested and maintained – can have the opposite effect. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 2/3 of fire deaths in the home are a direct consequence of non-working smoke detectors. Likewise, a substantial number of deaths from CO poisoning result from carbon-monoxide detectors that are either absent or not working properly. Alarms should be installed on each floor of the house, outside of sleeping areas and inside each bedroom. The same goes for apartments. Review your lease for any language concerning maintenance of detectors (which usually means testing them regularly and making sure they have fresh batteries). Call your city offices (either Columbus or Athens) to find out what local requirements landlords must follow.
• Light bulbs. Your apartment or rental house should have working lights and light bulbs throughout. But if any bulbs burn out while you’re living in the rental property, you’re the one who must replace them. The exception would be situations where the bulb is difficult to access, such as a high ceiling that requires a ladder. It wouldn’t hurt to ask your landlord for some extra bulbs when you move in. All he can do is say yes or no.
• Busted or poorly performing appliances. Normally, the landlord is responsible for repairing appliances that break down or under-perform, either from natural deterioration over time or an unknown cause. However, if the problem is your fault – for example, running the air conditioner at 66 degrees when it’s 95 and humid outside – you would be responsible for that repair if the landlord concludes that you’re at fault. Another example would be the tenant trying to dry a large, soaking-wet rug in a dryer that ends up breaking as a result. This is why it’s important to document the condition of appliances when you move in, so if normal wear-and-tear does result in a breakdown, you won’t get blamed for it.
• Heating and cooling appliances (ACs, furnaces, heat pumps, etc.). Landlords are usually responsible for both repair and maintenance of HVAC equipment in a rental property. It’s not often that a tenant will remember to change a furnace filter, for example. Yet, if the landlord doesn’t keep up on maintenance, this could result in poor performance, higher energy bills, and eventual malfunctions. It’s definitely in the landlord’s interest to keep up with routine professional maintenance on HVAC appliances.
• Lawn maintenance. If you live in a rental house in Athens or Columbus, your lease should specify who is responsible for mowing and trimming the yard. In most cases, it’s the landlord’s responsibility, though in long-term residential rental houses, the occupant often takes care of the lawn. You might ask the landlord to let you know when they intend to mow or weed-whack the yard, to avoid them showing up unannounced and disturbing study sessions or naps.