It’s part of your rental agreement that your landlord is responsible for major maintenance items around the house, but what about the small things? When it comes to disposable things like lightbulbs, is the landlord or renter responsible for changing them?
When is a renter responsible for changing light bulbs?
You first thought as a renter may be that your landlord is responsible for changing any and all light bulbs in your rental. Unless that duty is spelled out in your lease, however, the situation typically places the responsibility of changing light bulbs in the unit on the renter.
This may be different if you live in a multi-unit apartment complex with a maintenance department, but most rental scenarios will require the renter to replace any light bulbs that are easy to reach in the unit, and any bulbs in devices that belong to the renter. Your landlord will most often be responsible for replacing light bulbs in common areas and in hard to reach or dangerous areas.
When should your landlord change the light bulbs?
Knowing when to contact your landlord about a burnt-out light bulb can be confusing depending on what type of rental you live in. If you rent a single-family home, unless the light bulb is in a hard-to-reach spot or is part of an essential appliance (stove, refrigerator, etc.), you will most likely be responsible for replacing it yourself unless your lease says otherwise.
In an apartment with common areas such as staircases, laundry rooms, gyms, etc., your landlord will most often be required to replace the bulbs, especially if it results in an unsafe environment for the tenants. Parking lots and garages, staircases, and laundry rooms all present safety hazards without adequate lighting, so make sure you let your landlord or maintenance company know if a light goes out in one of these common areas.
Who pays for replacement light bulbs?
For some people, the answer they’re really after is who pays to replace light bulbs? After all, most light bulbs are relatively easy to replace, so after the work is all said and done, who foots the bill? That most likely follows the same model as who is responsible for the work. If it’s a bulb inside the unit or in an appliance that belongs to you (the renter), then it will most likely fall on you to pay for the bulbs unless your lease says otherwise.
If your landlord is the one replacing the bulb, then it will most likely be your landlord buying the bulbs. If you’ve been left with a bill for light bulb replacements from your landlord, you may be wondering if you’re actually required to pay. If the light bulbs that burnt out worked when you signed your lease, and your lease stipulated that you were responsible for replacing the bulbs, then technically you can be charged if your landlord was the one who did the work. It’s an uncommon situation to be in, but it can happen.
Check light bulbs during your walk-through.
Your walk-through is the perfect time to assess your rental and get a better understanding for what light bulbs you need to be worried about, and which ones you can leave up to your landlord. Bring along a walk-through checklist and take notes of the in-unit lights and their current state. You don’t want to start your rental experience off by having to replace every light bulb when you move in.
Finally, take note of when you replace a light bulb. If the bulb doesn’t last as long as it should considering normal circumstances, then you may need to contact apartment maintenance or alert your landlord to a potential electrical problem. You should also consider more energy efficient bulbs, like LEDs, which offer longer life for less operating cost.
Light bulbs will probably end up at the bottom of your list of things to worry about in your rental, but don’t let these everyday essentials fall by the wayside. Be sure you know who’s responsible for which bulbs in your unit. Small costs add up quick!
