Is outdoor unit corrosion the tenant's or landlord's responsibility?

It depends on the lease agreement. However, corrosion from weather exposure is generally considered age-related wear on a building fixture, which typically falls under the landlord's responsibility. A documented diagnosis helps both parties refer to their contract terms.

Can the tenant be held responsible for a gas leak?

Only if the leak was caused by tenant action — such as physical damage to the unit or piping. Corrosion at outdoor connections from weather exposure is not caused by tenant use and is not typically their responsibility.

What does a documented diagnosis report include?

It includes the leak location, photos of the corrosion, test results from the bubble or pressure test, the error code, and a written conclusion on the cause. Both parties receive the same report to ensure transparency.

LG Office Unit Gas Leak With Tenant and Landlord Responsibility Dispute

Aircon case in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore: cooling loss traced to corrosion-related gas leak at outdoor unit pipe connections — normal wear and not caused by tenant misuse after targeted diagnosis checks.

Case Details

Reported: The office aircon is not cold. We asked our landlord to fix it, but they said we should pay because we use it every day. We think it is a building issue. Can you come and check and tell us what is actually wrong?
Unit: LG · Cassette · 5 years old
Location: Office · Tanjong Pagar, Singapore

What We Checked

Refrigerant pressure was below operating range on the ceiling cassette circuit.
Indoor cassette unit was clean and well-maintained — filters had been serviced regularly.
Outdoor unit pipe connections showed corrosion and green oxidation at the joints.
Bubble test confirmed active leak at the outdoor unit gas line connection.
LG error code CH35 was active, consistent with low-pressure protection.
No signs of tenant-caused damage — the fault was age-related corrosion from outdoor exposure.

The Diagnosis

The gas leak was caused by corrosion at the outdoor unit pipe connections. This is a wear-and-tear issue resulting from years of weather exposure — not from misuse, neglect, or anything the tenant did. The indoor unit had been well-maintained with regular filter cleaning. The outdoor unit corrosion pattern was consistent with age-related deterioration commonly seen on units in this age range. We documented the findings with photos and test data for both the tenant and the landlord.

What Fixed It

We provided a documented report covering the leak location, corrosion evidence, and our conclusion that the fault was age-related wear. We recommended outdoor unit replacement as the corrosion had spread across the connection area. We shared the report with both the tenant and the landlord so they could discuss responsibility based on their lease terms. After reviewing the documentation, the landlord approved the outdoor unit replacement. The tenant was not charged for the repair.

The landlord approved outdoor unit replacement based on the documented diagnosis. A new compatible outdoor unit was installed, the system was pressure-tested and recharged. Cooling returned to normal in the office with no further gas loss.

Why This Happens

How to handle aircon repair disputes between tenant and landlord.

Clear documentation of the fault — including photos, test results, and a written diagnosis — helps both parties agree on responsibility.
Corrosion from weather exposure is age-related wear, typically falling under the landlord's responsibility for building fixtures.
Tenant-caused issues usually involve filter neglect, thermostat misuse, or physical damage — none of which cause outdoor unit connection corrosion.
A neutral third-party diagnosis can prevent disputes from escalating and speed up the repair decision.

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