[Updated October 2021] The Complete List of Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Yes, your landlord must ensure a property is pest-free before you move in and ensure there are no possible entry points for pests. Once you’ve moved in, should pests appear, contact your landlord to discuss and remedy the situation immediately.

Landlords are responsible for changing the locks in the beginning of the tenancy if requested by the tenant. Landlords are also responsible for providing and maintaining locks throughout the unit, including exterior door locks and windows. 

Smoke detectors are a seemingly small concern, but their implications are big and important. A landlord is required to replace batteries in fire alarms but, as a tenant, you must ensure they remain active. If alarm starts to sound, indicating low battery or other malfunction, contact your landlord immediately to let them know.  A landlord must investigate this immediately. Insurance policies hinge upon the presence of a working fire prevention plan which, of course, includes smoke detectors. The expectation is that landlords conduct an annual test of fire alarms and replace batteries as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

In the case of flooding or less serious water damage, your landlord is responsible for the repairs. Communicate the issue immediately to minimize damage and impact to the property and your life.

The basic maintenance of appliances is the domain of landlords, as are any replacements or repairs related to standard wear and tear; however, if the tenant causes the damage, the tenant is responsible for any repair costs.

The landlord is responsible for inspecting and keeping up with scheduled services of the furnace.  Along with replacing furnace filters and cleaning heating ducts as needed.

Yes! It seems basic, but it’s worth reiterating: garbage disposal is a tenant’s responsibility. Make sure you ask your landlord where garbage chutes, recycling bins, and building garbage facilities are located and on what day the garbage is picked up, or refer to you municipality’s website for a schedule.

In BC, the tenant in a single-family home or townhome is responsible for basic yard work including cutting the grass and basic weeding. In Ontario however, the responsibility falls on the landlord by default. In any case, the landlord should make duties clear to the tenant and indicate where the necessary tools are for performing these tasks if they’ve specified that lawn care is a required duty. The tenant should never embark on any major landscaping efforts (i.e. digging new flower beds etc.) without consulting the landlord.  

Tenants must maintain “reasonable health, cleanliness
and sanitary standards” throughout the rental property. Tenants are responsible for the general upkeep of the rental property during their tenancy, and are responsible for any repairs for damages caused by themselves or their guests. Tenants do not bear any responsibility for general wear and tear of the rental property, as that is a landlord’s responsibility.

Tenants are responsible for replacing all standard fuses (e.g stove & oven) in the rental unit, unless it was caused by a problem with the stove or electrical system. Tenants are also responsible for ensuring all fuses are working properly before the end of their tenancy.

Similar to lawn care, this depends on the province one is renting in. In BC, it is the tenant’s responsibility to adhere to civic bylaws and clear snow from walkways and sidewalks around a property (townhomes, single family homes). However, this only applies to homes and not apartment buildings where a building manager is typically responsible for snow removal. In Ontario, snow removal duties fall upon the landlord regardless of the type of unit.

Before moving in, a landlord should make sure all light bulbs and fuses are in working order. Once you are in, you will be responsible for replacing light bulbs and standard fuses unless caused by a malfunctioning electrical system, in which case, that is the landlord’s responsibility.

Landlords are responsible for painting the interior of a unit at regular intervals, as required to maintain a good state of repair. However, tenants are responsible for any paint job required to fix damages caused during their tenancy. 

Landlords are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the fireplace at reasonable intervals. If tenants have used the fireplace, they are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the fireplace before the end of the tenancy.

Landlords are responsible for providing tenants with clean carpets at the beginning of their tenancy. Throughout the tenancy, tenants are responsible for routine carpet cleaning and maintenance. At the end of the tenancy, tenants may be expected to steam clean or shampoo the carpets, regardless of the length of the tenancy.