Do you regularly have clogged toilets and clogged sink drains? Know when the landlord pays the plumber? Although you don’t own your apartment, you must pay for simple repairs like replacing seals and screws. However, the landlord is responsible for plumbing issues (such as clogged toilets or sinks).
When Must the Landlord Pay the Plumber?
Unless the tenant’s fault brought about the damage, the landlord is responsible for any necessary or urgent repairs. Significant damage, such as a big plumbing leak that makes it impossible to use or maintain an apartment properly, qualifies as urgent repairs.
Here are a few instances where the landlord is obligated to pay the plumber:
- When a problem arises but the landlord was negligent in maintaining the property, it happened after both signed the lease agreement.
- When faulty construction or a natural disaster causes the damage
- When the plumbing system fails and is damaged, the landlord is liable because it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that the rental flat complies with all applicable laws.
- Before both signed the lease, there was a plumbing issue that the tenant ignored.
How to Address Urgent Plumbing Issues
You need to contact the landlord immediately if there is an emergency on the property. However, if the tenant asks the landlord to send a plumber and the plumber finds that the problem occurred because of the tenant’s carelessness (for example, hair clogged the shower drain), the tenant would be responsible for the cost of the repair.
What are Plumbing Issues Considered an Emergency?
It might be challenging to determine what plumbing issues require immediate care and what can wait until the next day. When something goes wrong late at night, you, the renter, must decide quickly who to call and what to do.
The Residential Tenancies Act specifies the following as examples of emergency repairs:
- a release of gas
- a significant roof leak
- A significant water service leak or a ruptured water main
- obstructed or malfunctioning toilets
- leaking water pipes
- defective water heater
- Storm, fire, or collision damage that is severe
- Flooding
Plumbing Maintenance as Compared to Repairs
When it’s not apparent whether a property issue qualifies under “maintenance” or “repair,” things can get tricky.
In general, “maintenance” refers to repairs to the property that aren’t urgent but are considered signs of delayed wear and tear as opposed to “repairs,” which frequently refer to something that needs to be fixed because it is broken or damaged. The property’s roof, foundations, and walls are typically the landlord’s responsibility to maintain and pay for, but not the decorative elements like carpets.
Overall, the tenant is responsible for maintaining the rental property’s cleanliness and functionality during the lease. The landlord is responsible for ensuring the home is secure and suitable for a renter. The landlord is ultimately responsible if a significant plumbing issue with a rental property wasn’t your fault.
Are you seeking a skilled plumber to clear your pipes and handle any repairs or maintenance on your plumbing system? Bueno Plumbing team has been providing prompt, polite service. Contact us now!
