Learn about your responsibilities when it comes to repairs, maintenance, and cleaning
Tenant responsibilities for repairs and cleaning:
It is common courtesy to alert your landlord of any problems or potential problems so they may be addressed.
For example, alerting your landlord of a small plumbing leak will allow them to address the problem before it gets worse and potentially causes more damage to the rental unit.
Reasonable wear and tear are not a tenant’s responsibility to repair or maintain. This refers to the natural wear that occurs from normal aging when the tenant has used the rental unit in a reasonable manner and not caused deliberate damage.
Landlord responsibilities for repairs, maintenance, and cleaning:
The landlord must make emergency repairs without delay.
The Tenant and Landlord Relations Office considers emergency repairs the work required to ensure that a tenant has heat, water, and electrical services. Landlords have the right to enter a tenant’s rental unit without notice in emergency situations. Emergency repairs may include, but are not limited to:
The amount of notice a landlord must give a tenant before entering the rental unit for repairs or maintenance depends on the type of repairs and if they were requested by the tenant. To learn more about how much notice is required:
Landlord and tenants should complete repairs and maintenance within a reasonable amount of time. If you have concerns with the amount of time it is taking for your landlord or tenant to complete your request, you may contact the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office for assistance in resolving the matter. To learn more:
It’s a good idea for a landlord to regularly inspect a rental unit. Inspections ensure everything’s working well, there’s no damage, and that tenants are keeping things reasonably clean. Some insurance providers may require the landlord to prove that regular property inspections have been done. To learn more about how much notice is required:
If you have a problem with repairs, maintenance, or cleanliness by either a landlord or a tenant, there are steps you can follow and services available to help you solve it. To learn more: