Repairs in a Rental Property – Who Pays and How to Handle Them Efficiently

A burst pipe, a broken washing machine, the heating failing mid-winter. Every landlord eventually gets a message that something is broken. The question is: do you know who is responsible — and can you respond quickly enough to stop a small problem becoming a large one?

What the Landlord Fixes, What the Tenant Fixes

The law makes a clear distinction. The landlord is responsible for keeping the property fit for its intended use: the plumbing, electrical and heating systems, the roof, structure and other building elements. The tenant is responsible for minor repairs from normal use: replacing light bulbs, fixing dripping taps caused by wear, redecorating at the end of the tenancy.

In practice the line can be disputed — especially for damage that could have resulted either from tenant misuse or from natural wear and tear. Good documentation in the form of check-in reports and a maintenance history protects both parties.

The Problem Without a System: Lost Requests

The tenant texts about a leak. The landlord replies that they will sort it. A week passes, nothing happens. Another message. The landlord cannot find the plumber's number. The plumber visits — but the landlord has no record of whether or when the issue was resolved.

This plays out daily for landlords managing maintenance by phone. Every request is a separate thread that is easy to lose. A lost request means a potential dispute with the tenant — and an escalating problem.

The Maintenance Module in SmartRentier

Every maintenance request enters the system as a separate record with a status: New → In progress → Completed. Tenants submit issues through their portal — with a description, photos and the date reported. The landlord sees all open requests in one place, without scrolling through message histories.

Assigning to a contractor — from your built-in contact directory you select the right tradesperson for the type of work and location. The contractor contact, visit date and repair outcome are recorded in the request history.

Maintenance history — every property has a complete record of requests and repairs. When a tenant reports "the bathroom tap is leaking again" — you can see when the last report was made, who fixed it and what was done.

Cost tracking — the cost of each repair is assigned to the property. After a year you can see which flat generates the most maintenance costs — valuable information when deciding whether to renovate or sell.

Contractor Directory – No More Searching in a Panic

SmartRentier lets you build your own catalogue of trusted tradespeople: plumber, electrician, locksmith, cleaning company — organised by type of work and location. When a pipe bursts at 10pm, you know exactly who to call without scrolling through a year of old text messages.

Documentation That Protects You

Photos attached to the report, dates of intervention, repair confirmations — this documentation matters in any dispute with a tenant or insurer. The system stores it automatically, without separate folders or filing.

Manage maintenance without the chaos — try SmartRentier free for 30 days. All requests in one place, repair history accessible at any time.