Rented Property Maintenance And Repairs, Who Is Responsible?

Inevitably, something at your rented property will wear out, break or need to be replaced. But exactly who is responsible for rented property maintenance and repairs?

Essentially, the landlord is responsible for ensuring that tenants have a safe, dry and secure home. Landlords are also responsible for maintaining and repairing anything that is in the property when the tenant moves in. Tenants are responsible for keeping the property in a good condition during their tenancy, allowing for reasonable wear and tear. Tenants should replace consumables like light bulbs, filters and batteries that are used during the tenancy. It is also the tenant’s responsibility to inform the landlord of any repairs or maintenance that is required. You can do this via the Maintenance and Repairs button at the top of this page or going to https://newmills.fixflo.com/

Electricity

Properties should have safe and functional wiring and sockets etc. We will ask a registered professional to make regular checks to ensure that ovens, extractor fans and other electrical appliances and wiring are in good condition. This is mandatory for shared houses. Tenants should keep their own electrical appliances in good working order.

Gas

All gas devices, accessories, installations, pipes and smoke outlets must be kept in excellent condition. Landlords must obtain a gas safety certificate before renting their property and we will arrange for an annual gas safety check carried out by a registered gas safe engineer after that.

Heating

The landlord must keep the heating systems in good condition. We will arrange for gas boilers and heaters to be checked annually by a qualified technician, and electric boilers and heaters will be checked at least every five years.

Water

Rented properties must have running water and well-maintained plumbing, tanks, drains and sewage. We will arrange for any leaks to be repaired by a qualified professional.

Sanitation

Landlords must provide a working toilet. Tenants should not put anything down the toilet that will cause the drain to block.

Exterior Pipes and Drainage

Exterior pipes should flow freely and waste water should quickly disappear into drains. Tenants should tell us immediately if they notice standing water around a drain or where water is slow to drain away.

Exterior Walls & Foundations

Rental properties must be safe and well maintained. Tenants must notify us immediately if they notice the exterior wall cracking or bowing. This could be a sign of serious damage and immediate repairs may be needed.

Roof and Guttering

Landlords must ensure that their properties have a good roof, that doesn’t leak and does not allow damp to drip through. Support beams should be free of rot and there should be no loose tiles.

Gutters should be secure and allow water to run away freely. Tenants must tell us if they see water running off the roof onto the side of the building as this can cause severe long-term damage.

Exterior Gardens & Outbuildings

We will ensure that the garden is tidy before you move in. It is then your responsibility to keep the garden well maintained. You should keep the lawn mowed, weeds suppressed and undertake light pruning.

For tenants in shared houses your garden will be regularly cared for by our maintenance team.

Fire and Smoke Alarms

Landlords must ensure that there are smoke detectors on each floor of the property and carbon monoxide detectors where there are gas appliances or open fires. The batteries must be checked regularly and replaced when necessary, by tenants.

For tenants in shared houses, smoke alarms are hard wired and you will additionally have heat detectors in the kitchen. All alarms in shared houses are tested monthly by our team. Tenants in shared houses will find a schedule of when the alarms are tested in their house manual.

Rented Property Maintenance And Repairs, Who Is Responsible?

Download our Maintenance and Repairs Responsibility Factsheet for a quick guide to what should be reported via https://newmills.fixflo.com/ and what tenants should do for themselves.

See also, our post about Who is Responsible for Property Security, Landlords or Tenants? This post explains who is responsible for repairs in the event of a break-in.

 

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