What does maintenance actually consist of and who has to pay for it? These questions will undoubtedly come up for discussion between every tenant and landlord. We distribute maintenance in minor and major repairs. Minor repairs are at the expense of the tenant. Major repairs are for the account of the landlord.

Minor repairs
This includes items that must be replaced by the tenant’s own use. These actions are easily executable for the tenant. You can think of small things like changing a light bulb, buying new batteries for example a remote control, regular cleaning of the grid of the dryer. The minor repairs will therefore involve relatively little expense. A sum is often set up in the agreement in terms of the costs for minor repairs for the tenant.

Major repairs
This includes things such as: having to fix devices that do not work, a leak, blockage of the shower, etc. These are things that involve relatively higher costs. The built-in equipment of kitchens is usually considered as an immovable attachment to the home. The built-in equipment is then rented together with the home by the landlord. Repair of appliance from the kitchen is therefore at the expense of the landlord (unless the tenant has scrapped it).

In short, the tenant takes care of repairs of damage that he himself has caused. If the landlord also carries out the small and daily repairs, the lessor may pass on the costs to you as service costs.
The landlord has access to the house at all times so that the landlord can carry out the maintenance or repair. However, the landlord has to announce to the tenant when the appointment is planned.

What does the law say about garden or yard maintenance?

Article 8.1
If the rented property includes a garden or a yard, the tenant is obliged to construct, use, and maintain the garden as an ornamental garden and not to use the yard and garden for the storage of items of any kind whatsoever, like for the storage of one or more cars, caravans, boats, etc. Trees and shrubs, including the trees and shrubs that are present at the start of the rental, must be maintained by the tenant and pruned in time. If trees or shrubs in the garden cause nuisance, these must be removed at the tenant’s expense. If a logging permit is required, the tenant must request it at his expense with the owner’s knowledge. Damage caused by trees, shrubs or other planting is at the tenant’s expense.

Article 8.2
The tenant is not allowed to place, change or remove yard separations, barns, woodwork and other structures without permission from the landlord.