Tenants are expected to deal with small repairs. As a tenant, you’re responsible for:
- looking after your home by using it in a ‘tenant like’ way
- telling your landlord/agent about the repairs that are needed
- providing access to have any repair work done, and
- having a duty of care to your visitors
Using your home in a tenant-like way generally means:
- keeping your home reasonably clean
- doing minor repairs yourself, such as changing fuses and light bulbs, checking the smoke alarm batteries, tightening door handles, plunging toilets in the first instance of a blockage, running hot water down a sink to clear debris etc.
- not causing any damage to the property and making sure your visitors don’t cause any damage
- using any fixtures and fittings properly, for example, not blocking a toilet by flushing something unsuitable down it
Your tenancy agreement may also set out some express terms on what your responsibilities are for repairs.
Your landlord cannot include a term in your agreement that would pass on any of their repair responsibilities to you, for example, that you are responsible for repairs to the roof. This type of term would not have any force in law.
The Landlord is obligated to keep in repair the structure and exterior of the dwelling, and to keep in repair and proper working order the installations for the supply of water, gas and electricity and the installations in the Property for space heating and heating water.