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I rent an apartment and I had my sliding glass door open for a few hours and apparently this caused our water pipes to burst. They’re now saying that I’m responsible for damage and repair costs. Can they do this? Apparently this is very common in our building.
Asked on February 1, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Minnesota
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
The basic principle governing responsibility of damage to a rental is that normal wear and tear is the landlord's responsibility, while the tenant has to pay for any damage caused by their negligence or intentional acts. Since the open door is the cause of the burst water pipe and you admit to leaving it, you would bear the responsibility for all reasonable repair costs.
Note: This rule applies to just about everything regarding rented property, unless the lease specifically says otherwise.
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