Landlord duty vs. tenant-caused damage
In California, the landlord is generally responsible for plumbing repairs, because keeping the plumbing in good working order is part of providing a livable home. Tenants are only responsible for damage they clearly cause.
The landlord's duty covers the systems that make a home usable: pipes and supply lines, drains, faucets, toilets, sinks, water heaters, and connections. Ordinary wear, aging pipes, and normal failures are the landlord's to fix.
A tenant may be responsible for a specific problem they caused, such as breaking a fixture or flushing something that clogs a drain. But the core plumbing system belongs to the landlord to maintain, and a landlord cannot simply push routine plumbing repairs onto tenants. If yours is refusing to make a plumbing repair that should be their responsibility, a free review can help you understand what the law requires.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.