Your landlord has certain responsibilities when it comes to your home, whilst you are responsible for other bills. Much can depend on the type of tenant you are, and what deal you struck with your landlord prior to signing a contract.
Whilst it may seem like an uncertain situation, the UK Government has clear guidelines in place for landlords addressing their responsibilities and requirements. For instance, they must keep you home safe and free from health hazards. That means any bills incurred for repairs are remedial work would fall on them. However, if you caused that damage wilfully then you may be accountable for the expense.
There are policies available that cover repairs and the like too, which benefits both tenant and landlord. Special policies can cover plumbing, heating, electrics, drainage and a host of other areas within the home. These would be the responsibility of the landlord, but they are not compulsory. It might be worth discussing the options with your landlord though because the benefits stretch to both parties. For instance, the landlord comparison guide on HomeServe explains how as a tenant, you can call them directly if you have a problem with your boiler, cutting out the middleman – in this case, your landlord. They have to commit to a small outlay, but get peace of mind and no hassle when a problem occurs, whereas the tenant gets the swift remedial work they need.
The key to any good landlord-tenant relationship is communication and clarity, so make sure you are aware of which bills you must pay ahead of signing an agreement. If uncertainty creeps in, pick up the phone and make a call before anything becomes a problem. It is likely, if any bills are to be problematic, it will be around repairs and remedial work, so keep dialogue lines open and relationships open and honest.