Who is responsible for what?
Under Article 21 of the LAU, the landlord must carry out all repairs necessary to maintain the property in a habitable condition. This includes structural repairs, essential systems (heating, plumbing, electrics), and anything that affects your ability to live normally in the property.
The tenant is responsible for minor upkeep caused by everyday use, and must not make structural changes without written consent.
How to report a repair correctly
Always report repairs in writing with a clear description, date, and photos where possible. Send it from your rent.ai address so it's timestamped and on record. Give a reasonable deadline - 48 hours for urgent issues affecting habitability (heating, hot water, flooding), 7–14 days for non-urgent matters.
If they don't act
If your landlord fails to act within the deadline, you have options:
Urgent repairs: You may arrange the repair yourself and deduct the reasonable cost from rent, citing Article 21 of the LAU. Always notify the landlord first and get at least two quotes.
Non-urgent repairs: Send a formal notice citing Article 21 and escalate to mediation or legal action if ignored.
Habitability issues
Mould, structural damp, broken heating in winter, pest infestations, and lack of hot water are all habitability issues. Your landlord must address these urgently. If they refuse, this may give grounds for rent reduction or early contract termination without penalty.