Who is responsible for maintenance costs?
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Who is responsible for maintenance costs?
I rented a home and from the beginning of my lease the owner communicated that they’d want to get the deck worked on powerwash, sealant, etc. A year has gone by and this was never done, despite a weekly sweeping algae began growing on the deck and the landlord wants me to get rid of it. Am I responsible for the costs despite the landlord acknowledging that it needed maintenance?
Asked on November 13, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Washington
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
The landlord would be responsible for the maintence, when there is a written lease, unless and only to the extent that the lease itself makes the tenant responsible; that is, while the landlord would normally be responsible for this, the two parties (landlord and tenant) could contractully agrees that the tenant instead would be responsible.
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