Money Moral Dilemma: Should I pay towards landlord's repair bills?

A question about : Money Moral Dilemma: Should I pay towards landlord's repair bills?

Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on:

Should I pay towards landlord's repair bills?

I live in a flat with a friend, who also happens to own it. I pay rent, including all bills. If something goes wrong and we need to call a plumber or someone to carry out repairs, should I offer to pay some of the cost? Or is it their responsibility as the landlord?

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Best answers:

• I rented a room in a friend's house for a year and as far as we were concerned, with things like repairs, her house, her problem. It's what I paid her rent for. We established this the moment I moved in, which you really should have done. Have a conversation about it and see what he/she thinks. That said, if you break something, like a lamp, I think it's only fair you offer to replace it. If we're talking about a leaking pipe or damp, no, that's what home insurance is for.
• If you pay 'rent' then no. As above... their house, their investment, their problem.
• Assuming you're paying a fair amount of rent, it's their problem, if they're charging you much less than the going rate, then maybe offer to pay, if you can afford to.
• Costs of owning and maintaining a house = part and parcel of owning one - the owner pays. You already contribute through your rent payments - don't pay twice.
  Fair wear and tear = part and parcel of being a landlord - the owner pays. You already contribute through your rent payments - don't pay twice.
  Cost of repairs after putting a fist through a plasterboard wall - not covered - Mr Angry pays that one.
• It all depends on what you've agreed in advance, and if you have a tenancy agreement. But any standard tenancy agreement is almost certainly going to say it's the responsibility of the landlord to pay for on-going maintenance and repairs, other than replacement of consumables, unless the repairs are necessary due to accidental damage or negligence by the tenant.
• Not much of a dilemma here, I agree with all the previous posters that it's the landlord's responsibility to cover the costs of building maintenance, and yours if you accidentally break something.
  Unless you have a share of the equity, which is unlikely with an ordinary landlord-tenant relationship, then all the maintenance costs belong to the landlord. Will you still be around and get a share of the profits if they sell the property? I doubt it.
• On the open market a tenant paying rent would not be expected pay their landlord for general repairs this is obviously priced into the rent. That said a casual agreement with a friend may mean that lower rent is charged and a share of other costs are shared. As all relationships are different and we do not know the level of rent you pay or what has previously been agreed with the landlord the only advice I can give is talk to your friend.
• No, not at all! The point of renting a property is to make a profit so when you rent one of the few benefits is not having to fork out for repairs. Your landlord has to maintain the property by law, I would never give my landlord money for repairs. They should have factored this into the cost of your rent. If they didn't it's tough luck on their part.
  Renters have few rights as it is in the UK. If they ask for money tell them it's not your responsibility.
• Of course not
• I rent a room to a friend and I would not expect them to pay for things like leaky pipes or new kitchen (both of which I've had in the last year).
  However, they recently lost their keys and as a result I had to change the locks and get a new security fob for the block. As far as I'm concerned, they pay for that as it's not wear and tear or general maintenance/repairs.
  So, in essense, if you've caused damage through carelessness (or intentionally!) you should pay/contribute. If it's just general repairs then it's your landlords responsibility - that is what you pay rent for.
• As a landlord I expect to pay for repairs to my tenanted flat. Also if the fridge or washing machine breaks I would replace it.
  However I have a tenant who has called me out three times now due to plumbing/electricity problems, each time I have paid for a professional to attend but each time it has been due to the tenants lack of maintenance . Her Old and Faulty toaster tripping the switch putting her lights out, the fridge had not been cleaned so drain hole blocked and water was therefore leaking. You get the picture? So now I will still send out the repair guys but on the proviso that the problem should not be self inflicted
• I rent out my second bedroom and I always pay for repairs/damage etc. Flatmates rent includes everything so I treat it like that.
  That said a few years ago when it was super cold and snowy, he gave me extra money (of his own back) due to extra heating!!
• No assumptions - their problem.
• You pay rent.
  The landlord pays the repairs.
  Do not bring it up in conversation!
• I would vote "No" unless you're being given ridiculously cheap rent (for a house share - which are usually cheap anyway)
• Look at it like this - when your friend sells their property, that they own, are they going to give you some of the money they make from the sale?
  I expect not.
  So why on earth should you contribute anything towards any repair bills?!!
• I would help if I could afford it and knew that they couldn't.
• Would your landlord give you half the profits he made if he sold the property.
  The answer to your question about paying half the repair costs is the same as the answer to the above question
• It would be a good idea to set up a tenancy agreement to establish this sort of thing.
  It's generous of you to think of your friend, but you are doing your bit by paying the rent - they own the flat and will get the benefit when they sell it. But if you break something, it might be your responsibility.