Housing Counselor Certification (HUD) Practice Exam

Which responsibility typically falls under a landlord's duties?

1. Collecting rent on time

2. Repairing a leak in the roof

3. Screening potential tenants

4. Paying property taxes

The correct answer is: Repairing a leak in the roof

The duty of a landlord prominently includes the responsibility for maintaining the property and ensuring it is fit for habitation. This encompasses handling repairs, such as fixing a leak in the roof. Landlords are generally required by law to address issues that may affect the safety and living conditions of tenants. This duty is rooted in the legal obligations outlined in lease agreements and tenant-landlord laws, which emphasize that landlords must provide a safe and functioning environment for their tenants. The other responsibilities, while important to the overall management of a rental property, are not universally classified as landlord duties in the same way that repairs are. Collecting rent on time is indeed part of a landlord’s role, but it primarily pertains to financial management rather than property maintenance. Screening potential tenants also falls under a landlord's duties but is more related to tenant selection rather than property upkeep. Paying property taxes is a financial obligation of property ownership but is generally considered part of the ownership responsibility rather than a direct duty to the tenant regarding their living conditions. Thus, repairing leaks is a clear and critical duty that ensures tenants have a safe and livable environment.