It is important for both landlords and tenants to understand their specific responsibilities. Not only can this help to resolve issues early on, but it can also prevent many issues from ever arising in the first place. In some situations, the rental agreement will address these various responsibilities. Here are a few general rules when it comes to landlord and tenant responsibilities.
Landlord Responsibilities
Ultimately, landlords are responsible for providing a safe and habitable property for their tenants. This means that many aspects of property upkeep, like various maintenance and repairs, will fall under the landlord’s jurisdiction. If there is a leak in the plumbing system, it is often up to the landlord to obtain the necessary repairs. Landlords are also responsible for repairing or replacing broken appliances. Landlords must additionally provide appropriate notice prior to entering the property, raising rent, or in many other circumstances. They are also required to follow eviction laws and only evict tenants in a lawful manner.
Tenant Responsibilities
Many considerations can only be accomplished by someone that is currently residing on the property. Most of the time, tenants will be responsible for these things. Tenants are generally responsible for paying their rent on time, handling any fees on bounced checks, and keeping the rental unit clean. They are required to dispose of garbage in a timely manner, in addition to keeping noise to an appropriate level. Tenants must also clear any additional tenants with their landlord, inform landlords of problems on the property in a timely manner, and provide notice if they intend to move. Each situation is likely to be slightly different and it is important to keep this in mind when determining responsibility. For example, although a landlord is usually required to repair leaks in the plumbing, a tenant may be responsible if the issue is caused by their own actions, such as clogging the toilet excessively. Managing responsibilities between landlords and tenants can be rather difficult, so we recommend working alongside a property management company. To learn more about some of the most common landlord and tenant responsibilities, contact us at the Keyrenter in Silicon Valley today!