One of the biggest perks of renting is not having to worry about every repair that comes with homeownership. When the water heater fails, the roof leaks, or an appliance included with the rental stops working, most tenants expect the landlord to step in and handle the problem.

But not every issue inside a rental is automatically the landlord’s responsibility. Depending on your lease agreement and local laws, there are several situations in which the cost, responsibility, or liability may fall on the tenant instead.

1. Damage to Your Personal Belongings

If a burst pipe damages your furniture, electronics, or clothing, your landlord may not be responsible for replacing them. That’s one reason renters insurance is so important: it helps protect your belongings in the event of unexpected events.

2. Stolen Personal Property

Many renters assume their landlord will reimburse them if their belongings are stolen, but that’s rarely the case. While landlords are generally responsible for maintaining building security features, replacing stolen items is usually up to the tenant’s insurance policy.

3. Pest Problems Caused by Housekeeping Issues

Landlords are often responsible for treating building-wide infestations, but the situation can change if the problem originates inside a specific unit. Food left out, overflowing trash, or poor sanitation can sometimes make the tenant responsible for the extermination costs.

4. Hotel Stays During Certain Repairs

If your apartment becomes temporarily unlivable due to repairs, don’t assume your landlord is required to pay for a hotel room. In many cases, tenants must rely on their renters’ insurance policy for temporary housing coverage.

5. Disputes With Neighbors

Noisy neighbors, parking disagreements, and personality conflicts can be frustrating, but landlords are not always obligated to resolve them. Unless a lease violation or legal issue is involved, tenants may need to address these situations themselves.

6. Light Bulb Replacement

Replacing burned-out light bulbs is generally considered a routine maintenance task rather than a landlord repair. Unless the issue involves faulty wiring or a broken fixture, most landlords expect tenants to handle this simple fix.

7. Clogged Toilets and Drains

A plumbing issue caused by aging pipes may be the landlord’s responsibility, but clogs caused by excessive toilet paper, wipes, grease, hair, or foreign objects often aren’t. If a plumber determines the blockage resulted from tenant behavior, the repair bill may end up in the tenant’s hands.

8. Damage Caused by Guests

Your landlord generally won’t distinguish between damage you caused and damage caused by someone you invited into the property. Whether it’s a broken window, damaged flooring, or holes in the wall, tenants are usually responsible for their guests’ actions.

9. Neglected Maintenance Problems

Landlords can’t fix problems they don’t know about. If you notice a leak, water stain, mold growth, or another maintenance issue and fail to report it promptly, you could end up sharing responsibility for the resulting damage.