Repairs and work: distribution of charges between tenant and landlord
If you are making a rental investment, work will likely be necessary for renting out your property, ranging from minor adjustments to major construction.
It is not always easy to determine what falls under the landlord's responsibility and what is the tenant's obligation regarding housing maintenance. We help you see things more clearly.
Work and standards of decency 🦺
Work at the owner's expense 👈🏻
Outside of the criteria of decency, here is a list of works normally covered by the landlord. These are mainly the major works:
Electrical and gas network, supply of drinking water;
Repair of pipes or conduits, of mixers or faucets;
Heating system, replacement of boiler and water heater, descaling of electric water heater;
Ventilation system;
Change of coverings;
Replacement of old doors or windows.
Work at the tenant's expense
In summary, this concerns everything related to regular maintenance:
Maintenance of equipment to prevent degradation;
Restoration of equipment in case of damage;
Minor electrical work and routine repairs of heating systems except for items mentioned in the homeowner section;
Minor plumbing except for items mentioned in the homeowner section;
Maintenance of sanitary installations;
Painting connections;
Replacement of switches and fuses.
Possible arrangements 🤝
For personal reasons, the tenant may plan certain work and arrangements at their own expense and without the landlord's consent, such as changing flooring or painting. More significant modifications, such as the removal of partitions, are subject to the landlord's authorization.
Finally, in certain cases, work that is theoretically the landlord's responsibility can be managed and paid for by the tenant in exchange for a rent reduction. If this is the case, a clause in the lease must precisely define the agreement between the two parties and the amount or duration of this reduction.
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