Leasing License Practice Exam

In terms of liability, who is responsible for ensuring rental units are livable?

1. The tenant

2. The landlord

3. The property manager

4. The maintenance crew

The correct answer is: The landlord

The landlord is primarily responsible for ensuring that rental units are livable, which encompasses providing a safe and habitable environment that meets local housing codes and regulations. This means the landlord must address and rectify issues such as plumbing failures, heating problems, electrical hazards, or pest infestations that could affect the tenants' health and safety. While tenants have certain responsibilities for maintaining the unit and reporting issues, the overarching duty to ensure that the property is livable lies with the landlord. Property managers may take on many of the landlord's responsibilities regarding property maintenance and addressing tenant concerns, but it is the landlord's legal obligation at the end of the day. Similarly, the maintenance crew, while vital for executing repairs and maintenance tasks, operates under the direction of the landlord or property manager and does not bear the legal responsibility for livability.