Did Someone Say Emergency Plumbing Repairs Are a Landlord’s Responsibility?

Have you ever needed plumbing repairs in your rented home, but hesitated to call a plumber because you would have to pay for the services yourself? Well, here's a truth you probably haven't heard before:

You are not responsible for paying for emergency plumbing services in your rented house or apartment. It's one of the best-kept secrets in the rental business that your landlord has to pay for any emergency plumbing repairs that are needed in your apartment or house in most cases.

Not sure if your situation warrants payment by your landlord? Read on to learn more about exactly how much your landlord is required to pay, and when your landlord is responsible for paying your emergency plumbing repair costs.

Just What Does Your Landlord Have to Pay?

First things first, your landlord's primary responsibility to you as a tenant is to provide a habitable home for you to live in.

For that reason, any plumbing issues that lessen your quality of life- like flooding caused by backed up drains or broken pipes- your landlord has to pay for.

In many instances, your lease agreement will discuss what kinds of repairs your landlord is responsible for providing. Your landlord is usually also responsible for maintaining the plumbing systems in your home, so any repairs that are needed because of improper maintenance also fall on the landlord.

What if You Don’t Live in a Rental Home?

When you own a home as opposed to renting it, you are responsible for your own plumbing repairs.

It is one of the many points for renting in the great rent vs. own debate among millennials and baby boomers.

The exact amount landlords have to pay for plumbing repairs in rental homes varies based on a couple of different factors.

One of those factors is your lease agreement. Does it have a section that discusses paying for emergency plumbing repairs? If it does, it probably states that your landlord will pay for any repairs above a specific amount that you have agreed to.

While you may be responsible for repairs costing less than that amount. It may also say that you will pay for plumbing repairs on a "repair and deduct" basis, where the cost of the plumbing repair is later deducted from your next month's rent.

Check State And Local Rules

Always consult your state and local laws because, in most places, landlords are legally required to pay for plumbing repairs in your rented home.

This again varies based on where you live, but if there are local rules that demand a landlord be responsible for plumbing costs in their building, then you have every right to expect your landlord to pay for emergency repairs as well.

If you've been hesitating to call for plumbing repairs in your home because of the cost, don’t wait any longer! Simply call B & D Plumbing for plumbing services, including emergency repairs! Have you dealt with a plumbing emergency in your rental home before? Tell us all about it in the comments section.