The correct answer to this question, believe it or not, is that you shouldn’t pay for it at all! That’s because your landlord is actually responsible for paying for all your emergency plumbing expenses.

This is something I wish I had known when I was renting several years ago, which is why I’m sharing it with you now. Your landlord sure won’t tell you, and your friends and neighbors may not know themselves.

That’s why I have taken it upon myself to put together some of what I’ve found out about paying for plumbing services, to help other unsuspecting renters avoid the same issues I (and many renters before me, probably) have had to face when it comes to plumbing emergencies in their rented home.

Your Landlord Has to Pay For Plumbing Repairs

Your landlord’s one responsibility to you, is to provide a comfortable and safe environment for you and your loved ones to live in.

If you have a plumbing emergency like a flood or something else that can cause a threat to your family’s health and safety, the responsibility of fixing the issue falls on the person renting your home to you.

That means that should any plumbing emergency occur in your home, your landlord has to pay for the repairs and to restore your home to its previous livable condition. Depending on where you live, it may even be required by law that your landlord cover at least a portion of your emergency plumbing repairs…but more on that later.

Are Rental Homes a Better Option Than Home Ownership?

One benefit of renting is that nine times out of ten, you don’t have to pay for emergency plumbing repairs out of pocket. While owning a home is a good investment, it also puts a lot more responsibility on you as the resident living in the home.

When you own, you alone are responsible for maintaining and repairing your plumbing systems. When it comes to plumbing repairs in your rented home, always consult your lease agreement to see what it says about the kinds of repairs your landlord is responsible for.

The contract will usually contain a clause stating your landlord’s precise responsibilities in the event of a plumbing emergency. Your landlord may also offer something called “pay and deduct” which means that the amount you pay for any plumbing repairs is deducted from your next month’s rent.

What do Local Rules Say About Plumbing Emergencies?

Remember when I said we would get back to what your local laws say about this matter? Well, as I said, local and state laws often contain sections that require landlords to pay for at least a portion of plumbing repairs in any residential building they own.

Exactly how much your landlord has to pay is dependent on where you live, since the rules can vary from city to city and state to state. Always check to see what the local rules are about your particular plumbing emergency.

If plumbing repair costs have kept you from calling for emergency plumbing help, don’t let them stop you anymore! Find out exactly what your landlord’s financial responsibilities to you are, and call Paul the Plumber to take care of the plumbing issues in your Derry, NH home once and for all!