Landlord Maintenance Obligations
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Kuwaiti national legislation, Amiri decrees, and ministerial decisions.
Kuwaiti National Law
What is this right?
Landlords in Kuwait are responsible for keeping the property in good condition:
- The landlord must deliver the property in a habitable condition and maintain it throughout the lease.
- Structural repairs (plumbing, electrical, roof, walls) are the landlord's responsibility unless the contract says otherwise.
- The tenant is responsible for minor day-to-day maintenance caused by normal use.
- If the landlord fails to make necessary repairs, the tenant can request a court order or, in urgent cases, make the repair and deduct the cost from rent.
When does it apply?
- Your rental property needs major repairs (plumbing, electrical, structural).
- Your landlord refuses to fix problems that make the property unliveable.
- You want to know whether a repair is your responsibility or the landlord's.
What should you do?
- Notify your landlord in writing about the needed repair — keep a copy.
- Give a reasonable time for the landlord to respond before taking further action.
- If urgent (e.g., burst pipe, electrical hazard), you can make the repair yourself and deduct the cost from rent — but document everything.
- If the landlord still refuses, file a complaint with the Rent Disputes Committee.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not withhold rent as a way to force repairs — pay rent and pursue the issue separately.
- Do not make major repairs without notifying the landlord first — they may dispute the cost.
- Do not ignore maintenance issues — small problems can become bigger and more costly.
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