Landlord and Renter Responsibilities

When you rent a home, both you and your landlord have legal responsibilities. Understanding who is responsible for what can help you know when you need to act and how to get help.

What is my landlord required to do? 

Your landlord must keep your home safe and healthy to live in. Your landlord is required to:

• Follow building and housing codes that affect health and safety.
• Make all repairs needed to keep your home fit and habitable.
• Keep any shared areas, like hallways or laundry rooms, clean and safe.
• Keep all electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in safe working order.
• Prevent moisture buildup and mold growth, and fix any visible mold.
• Provide and maintain trash containers.
• Supply water, hot water, heat, and air conditioning (if provided), unless you control those systems yourself or they are billed directly to you by the utility company.
• Provide working smoke alarms.
• Pay for pest treatment or extermination, unless you caused the infestation or waited too long to report it.

In some cases, you and your landlord can agree in writing that you will take on some of these duties. For example, your lease might include that you are responsible for maintaining shared areas, providing trash containers, or paying for utilities. Any agreement must be in writing and carried out in good faith. Your landlord cannot use a written agreement to shift duties that the law does not allow to be shifted.

What are my responsibilities as a tenant?

While your landlord must keep the home safe, you also have responsibilities. The law says you must:

• Keep your home, appliances, and fixtures as clean and safe as you can.
• Do what you can to prevent excess moisture and mold.
• Tell your landlord right away if you see mold or excess moisture.
• Use all utilities and appliances reasonably.
• Get rid of trash.
• Not destroy or damage the property — and not let your household members or guests do so either.
• Not disturb your neighbors — and not let household members or guests do so either.
• Follow the lease and your landlord’s reasonable rules.
• Try to keep bugs or pests out.
• Tell your landlord right away if there is a pest problem.

If you, your household, or your guest cause damage or a pest infestation, you are responsible to fix it. There is often a disagreement over who caused a problem, which sometimes has to be decided by a judge.

How do I ask my landlord to fix the conditions in my rental?

The first step to get repairs or pest control is always to tell your landlord about the conditions. You must tell them in writing, like a letter or an email. Keep a copy of everything you send. You might need this proof.

You must keep paying your rent while you wait for your landlord to fix the conditions. You cannot stop paying rent just because your landlord won't make repairs. If you do, your landlord can evict you.

Read more: How to Ask Your Landlord for Repairs