Repairs and Services When Renting

Do make sure you have your landlord’s name, phone number, and address before you have a problem. Don’t expect to be reimbursed for repairs you do yourself unless your landlord agrees to it in writing.

Landlord and tenant responsibilities

The landlord’s responsibilities

The law says a landlord must keep a place healthy, safe and “suitable for occupation”. Your landlord has to make any repairs that are needed for your health and safety.

Your landlord is responsible for repairing:

• heating
• plumbing
• electricity
• locks
• walls, floors and ceilings (including water leaks or holes)
• fire doors and fire escapes
• intercoms
• elevators

Anything included in your rent must also be maintained. For example, your landlord is responsible for repairing:

• fridge and stove
• laundry facilities
• furniture included in your rent
• garages and storage sheds

If something needs to be repaired, tell your landlord right away even if the repair is not important to you. Do it in writing and keep a copy for yourself. If you don't tell your landlord about the problem and it gets worse, you could be held responsible.

The testing of the claims in a court proceeding at a formal hearing before a judge with the jurisdiction to hear the proceeding. The parties present their evidence and arguments to the judge, who then makes a decision resolving the parties' claims against one another that is final and binding on the parties unless successfully appealed. See "action," "appeal," "argument," "claim," "evidence" and "jurisdiction."

In law, the re-examination of a term of an order or agreement, usually to determine whether the term remains fair and appropriate in light of the circumstances prevailing at the time of the review. In family law, particularly the review of an order or agreement provided for the payment of spousal support. See "de novo," "family law agreements," "order" and "spousal support."