A landlord or landlady is responsible for maintaining his or her property. It is acceptable to do so alone or through managers or other agents. An unmaintained property is defined in several ways. It may be neglected as to its exterior. It may also be falling to ruin – abandoned, its interior decaying. Unmaintained rental units can fall into both categories. The landlord or landlady may fail to maintain the property to the correct standards of the building or health codes. An unmaintained property may not have utilities in good working order. In an unmaintained rental unit, repair work to the interior or exterior is lacking. As a result, the tenant may take the landlord to court for issues of health and safety. The city may also charge the landlord under local codes for violations of quality of life.