One of the most common problems among landlords and tenants is the issue on who is responsible for the repairs when any damages occur or are already present. Therefore it is important before signing a lease agreement that it is clearly defined on who will take charge of the repair and maintenance of a rented property.
The Housing Act has prescribed minimum standards of living conditions which the landlord needs to meet before he can go into the process of having his or her property rented. The landlord is responsible for maintenance of the rental premises and for provision of basic amenities such as the water supply and electricity to the tenants. He or she should also abide by the regulations of the lease form to keep the premises clean and habitable. And if, in any case, the landlord violates his obligation the tenant can intervene in several ways to fight for the rights that he is entitled to. However, if damage to a property was caused by the tenant themselves, their family, or pets, it will be the tenants who will be held accountable for the reparation.
There are several steps that need to be followed if the landlord fails to act in concurrence with the law. The first step is to issue a notice, which would include details on what needs to be repaired and the time frame which the tenant would want to have it done. The tenant must keep a copy of this letter for future reference.
In cases when the landlord does not respond positively to the form that was issued, the tenant can pursue three statutory remedies as follows:
The tenant can terminate the lease through issuance of proper notice to the landlord
-Engage outside contractors to undertake the repair.
-The costs may be deducted from the next month's rent, or the rent can be withheld until after the repair is completed.
-File a lawsuit against the landlord in court.
No comments:
Post a Comment