One of the nice parts of renting is that you usually don’t have to deal with every repair that comes with owning a home. If the water heater stops working, the roof starts leaking, or an appliance included with the rental breaks down, your first call is usually to the landlord or property manager.

Still, not every problem inside a rental automatically falls on the landlord. Your lease, the cause of the damage, and the laws where you live can all affect who is responsible for a repair or expense.

Some responsibilities are easy to overlook. Here are nine situations renters should know about before assuming the landlord will foot the bill.

1. Damage to Your Personal Belongings

If a pipe bursts and ruins your couch, laptop, clothing, or other belongings, the landlord may be responsible for repairing the property itself, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll replace everything you own.

This is one reason renters insurance can be useful. Depending on the policy, it may help cover personal belongings damaged by certain covered events. Check your policy so you know what is and isn’t covered.

2. Stolen Personal Property

A break-in can leave you dealing with both property damage and missing belongings. Your landlord may be responsible for certain building security features, but that doesn’t usually mean they’re responsible for replacing your stolen television, jewelry, computer, or other personal items.

Renters insurance may provide coverage for theft, depending on the policy. Keep an inventory of valuable belongings and save receipts or photos when possible.

3. Pest Problems Caused by Housekeeping Issues

Pest control can get complicated because responsibility often depends on where the infestation came from and what caused it.

A building-wide roach, bedbug, or rodent problem may fall on the landlord or property manager. If pests are attracted to one unit because of food left out, overflowing garbage, or other conditions caused by the tenant, the tenant may be charged for treatment.

Your lease and local rental laws can make a difference, so check both before assuming who has to pay.

4. Hotel Stays During Certain Repairs

A serious leak, fire, plumbing failure, or other problem can sometimes make a rental temporarily unsafe to live in. That doesn’t automatically mean your landlord has to pay for a hotel.

Some renters insurance policies include loss-of-use or additional-living-expense coverage that can help with temporary housing after a covered event. The rules also vary by location and by the reason the home became unlivable.

Before booking an expensive hotel and expecting reimbursement, check your lease, insurance policy, and local tenant protections.

5. Disputes With Neighbors

Loud music, parking arguments, shared-space disagreements, and other neighbor problems can make renting frustrating. But a landlord isn’t necessarily responsible for settling every personal dispute between tenants.

The situation may be different if a neighbor is violating the lease, breaking building rules, creating a serious nuisance, or engaging in illegal behavior. In those cases, document the problem and report it through the proper channels.

6. Light Bulb Replacement

A burned-out light bulb is usually considered routine upkeep rather than a repair for the landlord to handle. Most renters are expected to replace ordinary bulbs themselves.

If the light still doesn’t work after replacing the bulb, that’s a different matter. A faulty fixture, damaged switch, or electrical problem may need attention from the landlord or a qualified electrician.

7. Clogged Toilets and Drains

Not every plumbing clog is the landlord’s problem. If old pipes, a plumbing defect, or another property-related issue causes the blockage, the landlord may be responsible for getting it repaired.

A clog caused by wipes, excessive toilet paper, grease, hair, toys, or another item put down the drain by the tenant can be treated differently. If a plumber determines that tenant behavior caused the blockage, the renter may be billed for the service.

8. Damage Caused by Guests

Inviting friends and family over doesn’t transfer responsibility for their actions to the landlord. If a guest accidentally breaks a window, damages a door, stains the carpet, or puts a hole in the wall, the tenant may be responsible for the repair.

This can also apply to damage caused by other people or animals the tenant allows onto the property. If something gets damaged, report it rather than trying to hide it. Your lease may spell out how these situations are handled.

9. Neglected Maintenance Problems

A small maintenance issue can turn into an expensive repair if it’s ignored. A dripping pipe, water stain, slow leak, or patch of mold may seem minor at first, but waiting too long to report it can allow the damage to spread.

Renters generally have a responsibility to tell the landlord about problems they notice, particularly leaks and conditions that could cause further property damage. Keep written records of maintenance requests and photos of the problem when appropriate.

Check Your Lease Before Assuming Who Pays

Rental responsibilities aren’t the same everywhere. State and local laws can give tenants certain protections, while the lease may spell out routine maintenance and damage responsibilities.

Before paying for a repair yourself, or assuming your landlord will, check your lease and local rules. Knowing where your responsibilities begin and end can save you from an unexpected bill later.