Tenancy A-Z
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L
Lawns
Tenants should keep the property reasonably clean and tidy, which includes weeding and mowing lawns where the landlord has not accepted responsibility for this under the tenancy agreement. Tenants should also leave the property reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
Locks and locking devices
The landlord must provide and maintain locks and similar devices as necessary to ensure the property is reasonably secure.
Neither the landlord nor the tenant can remove, add to or alter any locking device without the consent of the other. Doing this without consent and without reasonable excuse is unlawful.
Where the property cannot be reasonably secured, through no fault of the tenant, the tenant should notify the landlord. The landlord should have the locking devices replaced or repaired. If the landlord fails to do this, and the tenant has made a reasonable attempt to notify the landlord, the tenant may have the work done themselves and seek compensation for reasonable expenses from the landlord.
Light bulbs
The responsibility for light bulbs is not defined in the Residential Tenancies Act.
However, if the landlord supplies light bulbs and the tenant takes them without replacing them, or damages them intentionally or carelessly, the tenant would be responsible for their replacement.
If the light bulbs remain in place but have blown, responsibility becomes less certain. Standard light bulbs that have blown may be seen as consumables and be replaceable by the tenant, or can be seen as fair wear and tear and be replaceable by the landlord.
Non-standard light bulbs that may be more expensive, or require special treatment to fit, may be the responsibility of the landlord. If a light bulb of this kind blows, it is likely to be treated as fair wear and tear.
M
Mould, mildew and dampness
There are many causes for dampness, mould and mildew in properties. Some of these may be due to the actions of tenants and caused by such things as not ventilating the property, using unflued gas heaters and drying clothes inside. Some of these may be the responsibility of the landlord and caused by such things as leaking pipes, blocked guttering and jammed windows. Some causes may not be the fault of either the landlord or the tenant and can be caused by such things as where the house is located and how much sunlight it gets.
Where there is a problem with mould, mildew and dampness, the tenant should try to clean the mould and mildew away and notify the landlord of the problem. If the tenant or landlord is causing the property to be damp, they can be requested to remedy the problem and may be served with a notice to remedy the breach if the problem is not resolved.
If the property is damp through no fault of the landlord or tenant, or the source of the dampness cannot be found, responsibility for resolving the problem becomes uncertain. In these circumstances, the landlord and tenant should negotiate an outcome that they are both happy with given the circumstances.