There are many expenses that come with moving into a new home. There are also expenses with owning or renting one–but most people don’t talk about them. A landlord will likely never tell you that they are the ones that are supposed to cover major repair costs, like plumbing emergencies, that can affect the livability of a home.
They won’t tell you this because it typically cuts into their profits. We’re going to take a quick look at what type of repairs are covered and how you might get the landlord to follow up. Keep reading for more information!
What is Covered by Your Rent?
When you pay rent, you are paying for a place to live. That place should be up to code and in acceptable living conditions.
When major (costly) problems crop up–typically with plumbing, HVAC, or electrical systems the landlord should be the one to pay for it.
This may not be set forward in the lease (remember, profits) but there could be legal action taken.
For example, if you are experiencing a burst pipe, the landlord cannot wait a week and then decide to have it repaired. If he does, then he will likely also be paying for mold remediation as well as your damaged belongings and possibly other living arrangements while your house is uninhabitable.
Deciding to Rent or Purchase a Home
Many people feel that paying a mortgage note is cheaper than renting–even if the notes are the same, you build equity in a purchased home.
While this is great, you don’t hear about the other problems that come with owning a home–broken HVAC units, flooded basements, or funky electrical issues.
All of which are problems that must be fixed and are typically costly. Renting a home means that burden is lifted and you are responsible only for normal wear and tear and upkeep. Upkeep can look like drain cleaning, changing air filters, or ensuring random garbage does not end up in the toilet or garbage disposal.
Local Ordinances
Even if your lease does not directly state that the landlord has to pay for major repairs to the home, your city, county, or state may have rules and regulations in place.
Some areas may force the landlord to prorate the rent based on the number of days the home was inhabitable, while others have a ‘right to deduct.’
This ‘right to deduct’ comes into play if you have a major and urgent repair and the landlord does nothing. It gives you the ‘right to deduct’ the repair cost from next month’s rent.
This stipulation can be tricky and cause problems if not done correctly, so it is best to take this step last, under the guidance of legal counsel. Although it may seem fair to withhold your rent because of an uninhabitable house, the consequences could end in eviction. Eviction makes it quite difficult to acquire a new rental and can be quite expensive.
Make The Call
If you have an urgent plumbing problem and the landlord seems to be moving at the pace of a snail (or worse, not at all) you should not hesitate to call us at 918-358-6724.
We can fix minor problems like a leaky sink or running toilet but we can also fix major issues like sewer blockages causing backup into your shower and burst pipes!
Do you have a story about a plumbing problem that your landlord fixed? What did you do to prompt them to repair it? Share this information with us in the comments!