Responsibilities · PROPERTY GUIDE

Landlord or tenant: who is responsible for what?

Turn assumptions about repairs, bills, access and deposits into written clauses.

Written and reviewed by Vivien Lim Sze Ting, REN 43762 · Reviewed 2026-09-28

Responsibility depends on the tenancy agreement and the facts. State who pays rent and utilities, services air-conditioners, handles minor wear, repairs appliances, addresses structural or concealed defects, and maintains shared facilities.

The tenant should use the premises for the agreed purpose, report problems promptly and avoid unauthorised alterations or subletting. The landlord should disclose known material issues, provide the agreed premises and follow the notice and access terms in the agreement.

Record the move-in condition, repair requests, approvals and payments in writing. Define notice, early termination, deposit deductions and return timing. For a serious dispute, obtain advice from a Malaysian lawyer rather than relying on a verbal market custom.