Hi Alyssa,

Thanks for your comment. Could you give some more details? It burst because of the cold? Outside? Is your landlord saying you’re responsible?

Thanks for the clarification.

Ultimately, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to provide a habitable functional environment for you to reside in. If the pipes aren’t properly insulated and freeze when it gets really cold outside, there are a variety of solutions for that, which the landlord should look into. This is particularly essential since you are covering the cost of the heat. It’s reasonable to assume you’d like to maybe turn down the power a bit when you’re away (you are footing the bill after all). If you have issues with how well the unit is environmentally controllable when you’re inside (re: the comment about the window caulking and lack of a thermostat), then I’ve a lack of words for how this is your problem. In short – this is an issue the landlord needs to address in my view, and with the information that you’ve giving me here (I’m not hearing the landlord’s side of the story), I don’t see how you can be held responsible for damages.

Small suggestion – I’d recommend articulating this to the landlord in a reasonable way to see if you can get this sorted out. There’s always a solution – but ultimately – you’re paying for a unit that should be in good order. I’d like to think your landlord is a reasonable person and has an interest in addressing the problem as opposed to attempting to get you to foot the bill on issues that are their responsibility.

Thanks for your comment. Couple of questions… is your unit an all inclusive or do you pay your own utilities? Was there an arrangement or an understanding with the landlord concerning the possibility that the pipes could freeze?

If there was an understanding between you and the landlord that the pipes *can* freeze during a cold spell, and the landlord is covering the cost of heating for this reason – and wants a certain heat maintained in the unit, then there might be merit behind their claim. With that said, it sounds like you have a few other issues with your unit that you need to sort out with your landlord. Based on what you’re saying, you’re claiming that it’s difficult for heat to stay in the apartment even when it is on (caulking on window) and that gauging the heat is a challenge with a lack of a thermostat.