Current maintenance and "rental repairs" at the expense of the tenant

Verified 27 October 2020 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Current maintenance and rental repairs are at the expense of the tenant for the entire duration of the rental. All parts of the dwelling (interior or exterior) and its equipment are affected. Here is a list of the most frequent rental repairs.

Private garden

Current maintenance of the garden is the responsibility of the tenant, especially the alleys (weeding, cleaning...), the lawn (mowing...), the massifs (watering, pruning...), the basins and swimming pool (cleaning...), the trees and shrubs (pruning, pruning, sawing, replacement and repair of watering installations...).

Please note

the owner must nevertheless ensure that the branches of the trees do not exceed on the neighbor's property. The court may compel an owner, occupying or not, to cut down trees encroaching on nearby land.

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Awnings, terraces, awnings

The maintenance of awnings, terraces and canopies requires regular cleaning, in particular the removal of moss and any other plants which may have developed there.

FYI  

the owner is responsible for the upkeep of the façades and green roofs.

Gutters

Stormwater downspouts, channels and gutters must be disgorged by the tenant.

Opening/closing mechanism

The proper functioning of the doors and windows must be ensured by the tenant. In this capacity, he must maintain the small mechanical parts of doors and windows and in particular:

  • Lubrication of hinges and hinges
  • Minor repairs to door knobs and handles, hinges and closing mechanisms
  • Replacement of small lock parts (bolts, latch)
  • Lubrication of small parts of locks and locks
  • Replacement of lost or damaged keys

Glazing

Current maintenance of the windows is the responsibility of the tenant. It concerns in particular:

  • Repair of sealants
  • Replacement of deteriorated windows

Blinds and shutters

The blinds must be maintained by the tenant who must ensure in particular:

  • Lubrication of the mechanism,
  • Replacement of ropes, pulleys or some blinds.

With regard to the shutters, the tenant is obliged to repair them when their degradation is attributable to him. Otherwise, it is up to the lessor to do so.

Portal Grids

Gate grids are also to be maintained by the tenant, in particular:

  • Cleaning,
  • Lubrication,
  • Replace bolts or latch

Ceilings, walls, partitions (interior)

The tenant ensures that the ceilings, walls and partitions of his dwelling are kept clean.

It must also ensure:

  • Menus fittings of paintings and tapestries
  • Replacement or replacement of coating materials (earthenware, mosaic, plastic...)
  • Replugging of any holes made (installation of paintings, mirrors...)

Floor coverings (interior)

Floor coverings (parquet floors, carpets, lino...) must be maintained by the tenant, who must ensure in particular:

  • Parquet waxing
  • Current maintenance of the vitrification of the parquet
  • Replacement of some flooring boards
  • Carpet fittings or other coverings (such as stains and holes)

Wardrobes and joinery

The replacement of the shelves and cupboards, the repair of the closing device, are at the expense of the tenant.

The carpentry (baseboards, rods and moldings) must also be maintained by the tenant, who must in particular ensure the fixing of the fittings and the replacement of the carpentry points.

Water Pipes

The tenant must ensure that:

  • disgorging
  • replacement of seals and collars

FYI  

if a water leak is due to the dilapidation of the pipes, the tenant must notify owner who is responsible for making the necessary repairs.

Gas Pipes

The lessee is required to maintain the gas lines, including:

  • Current maintenance of valves, siphons and ventilation openings
  • Periodic replacement of connecting hoses

Septic tanks

The emptying of septic tanks, sumps and lavatory pits must be ensured by the tenant in place.

FYI  

the cleaning of the septic tank is the responsibility of the lessor.

Heating, hot water and taps

The tenant must ensure the replacement of certain elements, in particular:

  • Bimetallic strip
  • Probes
  • Pistons
  • Membranes
  • Water boxes
  • Ignition
  • Piezoelectric ignition
  • Valves
  • Seals for gas appliances

It must also maintain the facilities made available to it, in particular:

  • Rinse and clean heating bodies and piping
  • Replace seals, valves, and gland of valves
  • Replace flush seals, floats and bell seals

Annual maintenance of the boiler the individual is at the expense of the tenant, unless the lease provides otherwise.

Please note

the cleaning of the flue and gas evacuation ducts and the ventilation ducts (boiler, chimney, VMC, etc.) is the responsibility of the tenant.

Sinks and sanitary fixtures

The sinks and sanitary appliances of the accommodation are to be maintained by the tenant, who must in particular:

  • Clean up limestone deposits,
  • Replacement of shower hoses

The maintenance of certain electrical equipment is a leasehold repair. The tenant must replace in particular:

  • Switches
  • Power Outlets
  • Circuit breakers and fuses
  • Bulbs
  • Luminous tubes
  • Protective rods or sheaths (or repair them)

The other equipment of the dwelling mentioned in the rental contract must be maintained and repaired (minor repairs) by the tenant.

This is the case, for example, with the following items made available to the tenant:

  • Refrigerator
  • Washing machine
  • Clothes drying machine
  • Extractor hoods
  • Solar collectors
  • Heat pump
  • Antenna
  • Sealed furniture
  • Chimneys
  • Mirrors and mirrors

Warning  

maintenance and possible renewal of the smoke detector are at the expense of the tenant, even if its initial purchase and installation are at the expense of the landlord.

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