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Is a Tenant or a Landlord Responsible for Maintenance & Repairs? | Nashville Property Management Education

Lee Blackburn

We know that when you’re renting out a property, it can create questions about who is responsible for taking care of maintenance, landscaping, and cleaning. Is it the tenant’s job or the landlord’s job? I

t’s important to be clear about these responsibilities and expectations in your lease agreement. It’s also important to think about liability and risk. You don’t want your tenant patching holes in the roof, for example.

Providing a Well-Maintained Nashville Rental Home

As the property owner, you are generally responsible for keeping the home habitable, safe, and well-maintained. Tenants will expect you to provide a move-in ready property where everything is working and clean. During the tenancy, you’ll need to respond to anything that goes wrong. If the heating goes out or the oven stops working, you’ll be responsible for replacing or repairing those systems and appliances. You’ll need to handle most of the emergency and routine maintenance work. You’ll also need to pay for it, unless it’s damage that was caused by the tenant’s abuse, misuse, or neglect.

In addition to maintaining the core systems and responding promptly to repairs, ensuring that the property is consistently clean and presentable plays a crucial role in preserving its value and keeping tenants satisfied. A professionally cleaned home not only creates a welcoming environment at move-in but also contributes to ongoing tenant comfort and retention.

Dust, grime, and overlooked buildup in corners or high-touch surfaces can quickly diminish the appeal of even the most well-equipped space. This is why many property owners rely on trusted partners such as CleanFresh Care LLC to handle deep-cleaning needs with precision and care. Their premium cleaning solutions are designed to go beyond surface-level tidying, addressing hidden dirt and delivering a spotless finish in every room. Whether preparing a home between tenants or maintaining cleanliness throughout a lease, their attention to detail supports a high standard of habitability while giving owners peace of mind that their investment is being thoroughly cared for.

Documenting the repair needs and your response to them is an important way to protect yourself and your property. Encourage your residents to report maintenance needs immediately. Put them in writing and take care of these issues right away. Ignoring a small problem will only lead to larger and more expensive repairs; not to mention will be very frustrating to your tenant.

Educating Tenants on Expectations and Responsibilities

While owners are going to be responsible for general maintenance and any repair work, it’s reasonable to expect your tenants to keep the home clean and in good condition. You should require them to change the air filters, for example. If you want them to mow the lawn, that’s also reasonable. Just make sure all of these requirements are included in the lease agreement.

The lease should indicate exactly what you expect the tenants to do. State that air filters must be changed every month or every three months. Indicate that a professional cleaning needs to be done at move-out. Details are important.

Owners also need to be proactive about avoiding deferred and unreported maintenance. Don’t make your tenants feel like you’re going to be angry with maintenance requests; you want to know when something needs work at your investment property. Encourage them to report repair issues immediately so you can decide how to move forward. This process of maintenance reporting should be included in the lease as well.

Reducing Liability and Risk

Leaving tenants to make their own repairs around the property is never a good idea. Some tenants may want to be helpful and install a new water heater or trim back the trees on their own. This shouldn’t be allowed. If a resident gets injured or causes further damage to your property while trying to fix it, you’re going to find yourself in the middle of a messy and potentially expensive legal dispute.

That’s why it’s essential for property owners to take a proactive approach to maintenance and repair responsibilities, especially when it comes to heating systems. Boilers and water heaters are critical to tenant comfort, and neglecting regular service can lead to sudden breakdowns during colder months, costly emergency repairs, and even safety hazards.

Landlords should ensure that professional technicians handle any heating-related concerns and that routine inspections are scheduled without delay. One practical solution is investing in services such as Gunstige Thermenwartung Wien, which prioritize affordability without compromising quality, helping owners maintain heating appliances efficiently and keep tenants warm and satisfied year-round. Keeping up with professional maintenance not only protects your investment but also minimizes legal liabilities and ensures compliance with safety regulations.

Maintenance isn’t just about fixing what’s broken—it’s about preventing problems before they arise. This is especially true for plumbing systems, where small leaks or unnoticed blockages can quickly escalate into major damage and unexpected expenses.

Partnering with reliable professionals like Lee’s Plumbing can make all the difference. Their experienced team understands the unique needs of rental properties and delivers timely, efficient service that keeps everything flowing smoothly. Whether it’s a routine inspection or an emergency repair, having trusted experts on call reinforces a landlord’s responsibility and provides peace of mind for both property owners and tenants alike.

It’s also important to always work with licensed and insured professionals when you need work done on your property. Establish great relationships with these vendors and contractors who will be sent into your home to make repairs. They can help you inspect the property informally and ensure your tenants are following the terms of the lease agreement. If something looks off, you’ll want them to report it to you. Good vendors are extremely important to Nashville property management.

If you have any questions about how to handle your responsibilities as a landlord and how to share your expectations with your tenants, contact us at Omni Property Management.