The landlord is legally responsible for the rental units’ condition regardless of whether the unit has a tenant in it or not.  Local and state housing codes require landlords with rental property to meet these code requirements to prevent the scenario of a rental property in an unliveable standard being rented out to a tenant.  Significant health problems can afflict tenants when there are environmental hazards present in a rental unit.  Such things should be dealt with as soon as the problem is identified.  However, it is also up to the renter to maintain a sanitary living condition as well.  The situation to each respective landlord-tenant agreement is unique and may have additional specific questions to address a particular case.  Within this Q&A section, you will find many common questions asked and practical answers to complete them.