Why Nobody Tells You if Emergency Plumbing Problems Are The Landlord’s Responsibility
Did you know that if you rent your home, you are not responsible for paying the bill for your plumbing emergency repairs? That’s right; if you have a plumbing emergency in your rented house or apartment, the one responsible for fixing it is most likely your landlord!
If you didn’t know this information because no one’s ever told it to you before, it’s probably because the people around you either didn’t know themselves or are your landlord and didn’t want you to find out. But not to worry!
We’ve compiled some useful information (including how much of the repairs your landlord has to pay, who pays for repairs when you own vs. rent your home, and what local laws say about the issue) to help you understand just how far your landlord’s responsibilities reach when it comes to plumbing problems.
Landlord Has to Pay
When you sign a lease to rent a house or apartment from someone, that person agrees to provide you with a habitable living space.
Clogged toilets and drains or flooding caused by a plumbing emergency can jeopardize that living space and make it temporarily uninhabitable, which puts the responsibility of fixing the problem on your landlord. In fact, most state laws require that landlords or management companies that own the building have to cover at least some part of plumbing maintenance and repair costs for their tenants.
Sometimes, the lease agreement you sign when you move into your rented apartment or house will state that your landlord has to pay for repairs over a certain amount which has been agreed upon by you and your landlord. Repairs below that price may fall on you to pay for, but your landlord is responsible for paying for anything above the agreed upon amount.
Rental Homes
There is always a lot of debate over it is better to buy or rent a home. Both options have their pros and cons, of course, but where do they differ when it comes to needing emergency plumbing repairs?
When you own a home, you alone are responsible for any, and all plumbing maintenance and repair needs your home may have. As a renter, however, maintaining the plumbing of your home or building becomes the responsibility of your landlord.
Your landlord also takes on the responsibility of any emergency plumbing repairs as well. Always go back to your lease agreement, as there is usually a section that discusses this issue. Some landlords offer what is known as “repair and deduct.” This means that you pay for repairs upfront, and your landlord will deduct the cost of the repair from the next month’s rent.
Local Rules
Remember that in most cases, your landlord is legally required to cover the cost of any emergency plumbing repairs. The specific requirements of exactly what they need to cover can vary though from state to state or even city to city.
Make sure to verify your landlord’s responsibilities as they pertain to plumbing repairs in both state and local laws, as well as in your lease agreement. Stop worrying about whether or not to call a plumber! When an emergency strikes, you’ve got to react. Call Jim Wagner Plumbing Inc. for plumbing repairs, installations, and maintenance.
