There can be one thing that throws up more confusion when renting a property: maintenance. When renting a property, the question of who is has the responsibility of maintaining the property, is often an issue. Oftentimes, a tenant will make the big mistake of assuming that s/he has no responsibilities, but this is far from the truth in nearly every case. The details as to the maintenance of the property will be outlined in the contract and it is your duty, as a tenant, to have read through the contract and fully understand what it means. After all, the signature at the bottom of the contract confirms that you agree to comply with the contract. So, how can you agree to comply with something you do not understand? If there are any legal issues that arise, assumptions are rarely a good enough grounding to which a court case can be won.
Initially, it is ideal to first look at the term maintenance and see what this actually means. The word may differ from contract to contract, so be very careful.
A tenant has the responsibility to maintain the property and the area which surrounds it. This will definitely include areas inside the property and any outside spaces such a patio, decking or any other part of the property. What this essentially suggests is that the tenant must keep all of these areas looking immaculate. But bear in mind that this does not mean redecorating or maintaining essential repairs. On the other hand, it does imply that certain repairs are expected to be worked upon; these will consist of smaller, day to day things like a plug blockage or light bulb replacement.
The tenant must also show due care and attention not to damage or deface other properties in the area and the surrounding grounds. In other words, you should behave like a decent human being.
Of course, if you do not comply, you will be in breach of contract and this could lead to your eviction from the property. You could also be liable to face certain financial obligations as outlined in the contract.
The landlord is responsible for the major repairs and maintenance. It is their job to ensure that the appliances are running as expected and they should either repair or replace them as necessary. This is something which should also be outlined in the contract. You should be informed as to what to do when you need to report a serious problem to your landlord.
As with any rented property, the main thing is to make sure the contract is thoroughly understood, then there will be no confusion between tenant and owner.
