Who fixes a leaking riser in a rented flat?

A riser is part of the building's shared plumbing, not your flat, so it is not the tenant's repair. Tell the landlord and the building administrator immediately — the administrator arranges work on shared systems, and acting fast limits the damage you might otherwise be asked about.

Can my landlord make me pay for a broken boiler?

Not usually, if it simply failed: replacing or repairing building systems is a capital repair, which the Civil Code puts on the landlord unless the lease says otherwise. It is different if the damage was caused by how it was used — that falls on the tenant either way. Check the repair clause in your lease first.

I paid for a repair myself — can I get the money back?

Get the landlord's agreement in writing before the work, keep the invoice, and deduct or claim only what was agreed. Without prior agreement, recovering the cost becomes a dispute about your specific contract, so the written consent is the part worth chasing.

Can I hire my own tradesperson?

For everyday upkeep, usually yes, and a landlord often prefers it. For anything structural or system-level — wiring, heating, plumbing beyond a tap — ask for consent first, in writing, and agree who pays before booking.

Does this work the same if I do not speak Lithuanian?

Yes. Post the job in English on Urbanfix and verified Vilnius pros will quote; messages are translated between English and Lithuanian automatically, and the invoice you can forward to the landlord comes out of the same flow.

Vilnius, Lithuania

Who pays for repairs in a rented flat in Lithuania?

The short answer: under the Lithuanian Civil Code the landlord is responsible for capital repairs and the tenant for everyday upkeep, unless the lease agrees something else. The longer answer is the part that saves the argument.

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Dispute resolution

Capital repairsLandlord by default (Civil Code Art. 6.492)

Everyday upkeepTenant by default

What overrides bothThe lease — the parties may agree a different split

Shared parts of the buildingRisers, roof, stairwell: the administrator or association

Damage you causedTenant, regardless of the split above

Before you payGet the landlord's agreement in writing, keep the invoice

General information, not legal advice: your lease and the Civil Code decide. For a dispute, get advice on your own contract.

Where the line usually falls

Capital repairs are the fabric and the systems — a failed riser, the heating, the wiring, the roof, the windows. Everyday upkeep is what ordinary use wears out: a dripping tap washer, a light fitting, silicone in the shower, a sink blocked by use, small fixings. That is the default split in the Civil Code, and it is why a new boiler is usually a landlord conversation while a blocked sink usually is not.

In an apartment block there is a third party in the picture. The riser, the roof, the stairwell and the building's heating substation belong to the shared systems, managed by the building administrator or the owners' association. If water is coming through the ceiling or the whole column of flats has no hot water, that is a shared-system problem: tell the landlord and the administrator straight away rather than booking a plumber for your flat.

The lease overrides the default, and many Lithuanian leases do. Common clauses make the tenant responsible for repairs under a set amount, or require the landlord's written consent above it. Read that clause before you book anyone — it decides whether you are arranging a repair or paying for one.

Practical order of operations: photograph the problem, tell the landlord in writing, agree who pays and up to what amount, then book a pro who issues an invoice. Keep the before-and-after photos and the receipt. On Urbanfix you can post the job in English, compare quotes, and forward the invoice — the paper trail is what gets you reimbursed.

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Frequently asked questions

: A riser is part of the building's shared plumbing, not your flat, so it is not the tenant's repair. Tell the landlord and the building administrator immediately — the administrator arranges work on shared systems, and acting fast limits the damage you might otherwise be asked about.
: Not usually, if it simply failed: replacing or repairing building systems is a capital repair, which the Civil Code puts on the landlord unless the lease says otherwise. It is different if the damage was caused by how it was used — that falls on the tenant either way. Check the repair clause in your lease first.
: Get the landlord's agreement in writing before the work, keep the invoice, and deduct or claim only what was agreed. Without prior agreement, recovering the cost becomes a dispute about your specific contract, so the written consent is the part worth chasing.
: For everyday upkeep, usually yes, and a landlord often prefers it. For anything structural or system-level — wiring, heating, plumbing beyond a tap — ask for consent first, in writing, and agree who pays before booking.
: Yes. Post the job in English on Urbanfix and verified Vilnius pros will quote; messages are translated between English and Lithuanian automatically, and the invoice you can forward to the landlord comes out of the same flow.

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