Maintenance Issues That Are The Tenant’s Responsibility

Are you unsure which maintenance issues in your property are the responsibility of the tenant and which are the responsibility of the landlord? Confusion as to who should be dealing with maintenance issues that crop up in homes is common

It’s worth taking the time to fully understand your responsibilities as a tenant or as a landlord. Thought Leaders Real Estate are property management Perth experts and are here to answer your questions.  

Maintenance issues that are the tenant’s responsibility 

When tenants rent a property in Western Australia, this comes with a certain level of responsibility for the upkeep of that property. Western Australian law states that the tenant is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the property and the grounds during their tenancy. Tenants must also notify their landlords when maintenance issues arise. 

If you’re a tenant, you may find this official guide on renting in Western Australia helpful. 

Basic household maintenance 

The expected maintenance that a tenant is expected to carry out is fairly basic and includes: 

• Purchasing and changing light bulbs that have gone out 
• General cleaning like sweeping, mopping, dusting, and vacuuming 
• Keeping provided appliances clean and using them correctly 
• Keeping fans and air conditioner vents clear of dust 
• Ensuring adequate ventilation to prevent mould growth 

A reasonable tenant who regularly cleans their space will generally be given back their security deposit, allowing for normal wear and tear items, such as a door hinge that has developed a squeak or curtains which have become sun faded. 

Garden and grounds maintenance 

Basic maintenance also applies to the grounds surrounding your rental. Unless otherwise stated, you will only have to worry about a small radius around the property—any uncultivated acreage belonging to the property owner is theirs to maintain. Garden maintenance tenants should expect to perform includes: 

• Moving the grass 
• Edging lawns 
• Weeding 
• Light pruning 
• Watering plants (when reasonable to do so) 

While this light maintenance is the responsibility of the tenant, providing the equipment to carry it out is not—the landlord should provide the tools that the tenant will reasonably need to carry out the above tasks. 

Notifying the landlord of required repairs 

As time goes on, the need for repairs to the property may come up. The Residential Tenancies Act states that tenants are obligated to report any damage or maintenance issues to the landlord within a reasonable timeframe. 

If tenants do not report issues, they may be responsible for damages caused due to their inaction. For example, if there is a leaking or burst water pipe, and the tenant neglects to inform the landlord, they may have to pay for the cost of any additional damage caused. 

Damage caused by neglect  

Tenants are responsible for damage caused by neglectful actions. For example, if the tenant spills something on the carpet and it causes a stain, they will need to pay to have the stain removed, or if this isn’t possible, to have the carpet replaced. Other examples of neglectful damage include: 

• Tears in curtains caused by a pet 
• Stains or burns on carpets caused by dropping or placing items on the carpet 
• A door lock that has been broken because the tenant was locked out 
• Damage caused by mould or mildew because the tenant did not properly ventilate the property  

Are you a prospective tenant looking for great rentals in Western Australia? Browse our listings. 

Maintenance issues that are the landlord’s responsibility 

While tenants are responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of a property, landlords are responsible for the bigger issues such as repairs. 

Looking for a new property manager? Read our 6 tips on finding a good property manager. 

Household maintenance 

Landlords are expected to keep their property in a safe and liveable condition. They are responsible for: 

• Plumbing maintenance and repairs 
• The maintenance of appliances provided when tenants moved in e.g. the cooker or air conditioning 
• Resolving mould or mildew issues caused by faults in the home, for example, faults in the gutters or roofing

Garden and grounds maintenance 

Landlords are responsible for garden and grounds maintenance beyond everyday tasks such as mowing and clearing leaves, such as: 

• Major tree lopping 
• Cutting back problematic overhanging branches, for example, those near power lines 
• Maintaining fire breaks 

Landlords must also provide their tenants with the equipment they need to perform daily maintenance outside of the home, for example, hoses and watering cans. 

Urgent repairs 

The landlord must respond to their tenant’s report of damage or a necessary repair. When a tenant reports an urgent repair issue, the landlord should respond within 24 hours to schedule the necessary repair. 

If for whatever reason the landlord is unable to be contacted within 24 hours, the tenant may arrange for the repairs to be made themselves. The landlord is then required to reimburse the tenant for the cost of those repairs. 

The Residential Tenancy Act defines the following as urgent repair issues: 

• A burst water pipe or serious water leak 
• A gas leak 
• A broken water heater 
• Broken or blocked toilet systems 
• A serious roof leak 
• Serious storm, fire, or impact damage 
• Flooding 

Non-urgent repairs 

Landlords are also responsible for handling most non-urgent repairs. If something around the property breaks, but it is not considered urgent, landlords should respond within 48 hours to arrange repairs.  

Property condition report

The property condition report is an important agreement, and its completion is mandatory when tenants move in and out of a property. It should be signed by both parties. It lays out the condition of the property before and after tenants move out and helps to prevent disputes between tenants and landlords. Read more about property condition reports. 

Final thoughts

The responsibility for maintenance issues mostly falls to the feet of the landlord. Tenants are expected to take care of the daily upkeep of a property such as cleaning and maintaining lawns. Tenants must also take care to report maintenance issues to the landlord straight away. Landlords are tasked with handling repairs to properties as well as bigger maintenance tasks such as pruning back tree branches. 

Still have questions? Speak to the team at Thought Leaders Real Estate agency Perth. We’re experts in property management Scarborough and areas across Western Australia.