What maintenance is a landlord responsible for?

Every residential lease carries an implied promise that the home is fit to live in. This is often called the implied warranty of habitability. It means the unit must be structurally sound, weatherproof, and served by working essential systems.

In practice, that duty covers the parts of the property a tenant cannot reasonably fix or control. You own the roof, the pipes, the wiring, and the heat source, so you own their upkeep. The exact scope varies by state, so review your state landlord tenant guide and confirm the details with local counsel.

Most maintenance that keeps a unit habitable and safe sits with the owner. Common landlord duties include:

• Structure and exterior: roof, foundation, walls, windows, and doors.
• Plumbing and water: pipes, drains, the water heater, and a supply of hot and cold running water.
• Heating and electrical: a working heat source, safe wiring, outlets, and fixtures.
• Supplied appliances: anything you provided, such as a stove, refrigerator, or in-unit laundry.
• Safety devices: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in working order.
• Pest control and common areas: shared hallways, stairs, and infestations that are not tenant-caused.

Tenants are generally responsible for keeping the unit clean, disposing of trash, and using systems as intended. They also pay for damage they or their guests cause beyond normal wear and tear. A drain clogged with grease is different from a pipe that fails on its own.

Small consumables often land on the tenant too, such as light bulbs and furnace filters, but only if the lease says so. Do not assume. Write these expectations into the lease and spell out who handles yard care, snow removal, and minor upkeep. Where a repair is required for habitability, the owner cannot shift that duty onto the tenant, even in writing.

The cleanest way to prevent maintenance disputes is a specific lease. State which party handles filters, batteries, landscaping, and pest treatment. Attach a move-in condition report so wear and tear is not confused with damage later.

Keep a dated record of every request and repair. Photos, receipts, and message history protect you if a tenant claims you ignored a problem, or if you need to charge for tenant-caused damage at move-out. Good records also make tax time far easier when you deduct repair costs.