Who Is Responsible for Repairs in a Rental?
In general, the landlord is responsible for the building’s structure, safety, and major systems, while the tenant is responsible for routine upkeep, minor wear items, and reporting problems promptly. Oregon law requires the landlord to keep the home in a habitable condition, and a clear lease should spell out the rest.
Here is how the split usually works.
What the landlord (or property manager) handles
- Structural integrity of the building and roof
- Major systems: plumbing, electrical, heating, and water
- Habitability and code compliance
- Repairs from normal wear and tear over time
- Appliances provided with the home, unless the lease says otherwise
What the tenant handles
- Keeping the home clean and free of trash
- Routine upkeep like replacing light bulbs and smoke-detector batteries
- Yard maintenance, when the lease assigns it
- Pest control after move-in (the home is pest-free at move-in)
- Reporting problems promptly so small issues do not become large, expensive ones
Damage caused by the tenant, their household, or their guests, beyond normal wear, is the tenant’s responsibility.
How to report a repair
Tenants submit a maintenance request through the online tenant portal at any time, with photos, or call the 24-hour maintenance hotline. For a fire, gas leak, flooding, no heat, or a lockout, call (971) 270-2600 immediately. See What is a maintenance emergency?
A note for owners
Maintenance is a normal cost of owning a rental. A common rule of thumb is to budget around 1.5 times one month’s rent per year for maintenance, more for older homes. We control those costs with vetted vendors, a spending limit you set, and proactive upkeep that prevents larger repairs.
