Landlord refusing to make repairs

We waited weeks and weeks for air conditioning to be repaired in the livingroom and in the end we got it done and sent the bill to the owner including his rent minus the amount for the repairs. It was the middle of summer and the heat was terrible. The agent told us the landlord intended to take the cost of the repair out of our deposit when we left so we didn't pay the last two months rent and moved out without renewing. There was no comeback as he was in the wrong and we left the apartment in excellent condition so it wasn'rt worth his while.

Most tenancy agreements require the tenant to keep the flat in good repair and return it to the landlord in similar condition as when it was leased. This means that most tenants are to be responsible for the maintenance or repair of air conditioners, plumbing and the electrical system in the apartment. If your tenancy agreement contract doesn't specifically state that the landlord is responsible for maintenance etc, then there may not be much you can get out of them.


The following is an excerpt from my own TA.


"At the Tenant's own expense to keep all the interior non-structural parts of the said Premises of which the Tenant is liable including all doors windows and the Landlord's furniture and fixtures in good clean tenantable substantial and proper repair and condition and deliver up the same to the Landlord at the expiration or sooner determination of the tenancy hereby created in the like condition (fair wear and tear excepted)."


"My landlord (one on HK's major Real Estate Agencies)" doesn't mean anything either. Chances are that their property was listed on all of Hong Kong's major real estate agencies. They don't own the property, but they can liaise with the landlord for you and advise you of the specifics of your agreement. Failing that, the next step is to go through the small claims court.

Depends also on how long the tenants have been living in it. Anyway tenancy agreements can be changed and should be before signing.