If the repair is yours to pay
Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.
Repair-request & landlord/tenant forms (LawDepot)Templates for a notice to repair, security-deposit demand, and more.
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Default rule and exceptions
A working water heater falls under the hot-water habitability duty in the statutes quoted here; Texas law names the exact minimum temperature (120°F), and the duty shifts to the tenant only if tenant damage caused the failure.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Landlord | Must provide and maintain in good operating condition a device that supplies hot water at a minimum temperature (120°F per Texas law). |
| Tenant | Owns the cost only if tenant-caused damage broke the water heater. |
| Exceptions | Tenant-caused damage; Ordinary end-of-life failure (10-year expected life per HUD) is the landlord's cost |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 27, 2026.
arises from the landlord's failure to provide and maintain in good operating condition a device to supply hot water of a minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hot Water Heaters 10 years All units
The costs an owner incurs for the basic cleaning and repairing of such items necessary to make a unit ready for occupancy by the next tenant are part of the costs of doing business. ... Hot Water Heaters 10 years All units
Common questions
Who pays for rental repair: water heater in Nationwide, US?
The landlord. Must provide and maintain in good operating condition a device that supplies hot water at a minimum temperature (120°F per Texas law).
Are there exceptions in Nationwide, US?
Tenant-caused damage; Ordinary end-of-life failure (10-year expected life per HUD) is the landlord's cost
What is this based on for Nationwide, US?
This verdict is sourced to Texas Property Code § 92.052 and 3 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Texas Property Code § 92.052statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- HUD Handbook 4350.3 Rev-1, Appendix 5D (Sample Life Expectancy Chart)official-guide · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- Appendix 5C/5D: Examples of Tenant Damage vs. Normal Wear and Tear; Sample Life Expectancy Chartofficial-guide · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
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