🏠 Landlord vs. Tenant Single-Family · Duplex · Townhouse What’s the Same—and What’s Different? One of the most common questions property owners ask is:“Is this my responsibility, or is it the HOA’s responsibility?” Especially during the winter season, maintenance and damage issues arise more frequently.Responsibility can vary depending on the type of property, so understanding these differences in advance is essential. 🔍 Items That Apply to Almost All Property Types 1️⃣ Frozen Interior Pipes (Lease Agreement Review Required) For frozen pipes, the first step is always to review the lease agreement to determine shared or assigned responsibility. If the lease states that the tenant is responsible for maintenance, the landlord cannot avoid responsibility if the damage was caused by the tenant’s failure to properly manage heat or water use. However, pipes located in: Garages Basements Exterior walls Main interior plumbing systemsare almost always considered the owner’s responsibility. 2️⃣ Heating Systems & Venting Each unit’s boiler, furnace, and venting system—including blocked exhaust—are…