Looking after a rental property’s everyday maintenance is a full-time job that can require attention at all hours of the day and night. As a landlord, you are required to provide your tenants with a habitable and safe environment. This means that in the event of maintenance requests you need to act quickly.
Being the owner of a rental property, it’s important to know what’s considered an emergency maintenance issue so that appropriate measures can be taken. It’s equally important to know which maintenance issues are not so urgent and can be dealt with during regular business hours.
Understanding the difference allows the landlord to assist the tenants accordingly. It also helps in building and maintaining strong and professional landlord-tenant relationships. By the end of this article, you will be able to differentiate between which maintenance issues are emergencies and which ones can wait to be addressed during regular business hours.
Emergency Maintenance Issues
All those maintenance issues that can potentially put the tenants and the property in harm’s way are categorized as emergencies. In other words, issues that might cause damage to the property or create health and safety risks for its occupants must be dealt with swiftly to prevent any serious consequences.
Here are some other common examples of emergency maintenance issues:
Gas Leakage
Gas leakages can lead to an explosion or exposure to toxic fumes. Carbon monoxide is usually odorless and is therefore very dangerous as it is hard to tell if you are breathing in this gas. If your tenants report a potential gas leak, you must take swift action to protect the property and its occupants.
Fires
A mishap in the kitchen can easily lead to a fire which can threaten the lives of not just the tenants but also the neighbors. Fires can also be started by faulty wirings, forgotten candles, or poorly stored flammable products.
Preventative maintenance and inspections, of fire alarms, and smoke detectors are key to keeping people safe. You should also make sure that tenants are aware of safety procedures in the event of a fire.
Flooding or Leaks
Flooding can be caused by various factors such as a broken water pipe, leaking roof, damage in sewage lines, or major weather events. If tenants report flooding, you must take immediate action as the build-up of moisture can lead to several health risks and cause structural damage to the property.
Loss of Water
Water is needed for drinking, cleaning, bathing, and sanitation. Without clean running water a tenant’s quality of life can significantly be diminished.
Broken Doors or Windows
Broken doors or windows undermine the privacy and safety of the property and its occupants. It is therefore vital to take immediate action when you’re made aware of this kind of issue.
All of the emergency maintenance issues mentioned above need vigilance and quick response.
Non-emergent Maintenance Issues
Not every maintenance issue is considered urgent. There are many issues that don’t pose an immediate threat to the safety and well-being of the tenants or the property. These non-emergent issues can therefore be postponed if the normal working hours are over.
These non-emergent issues should still be tended to promptly during working hours to ensure that tenants remain happy and comfortable. Some examples of non-emergency maintenance issues are:
- Dripping taps
- Burned-out light bulbs
- Minor home appliance issues
- Air conditioners or heaters not working when the temperature is moderate
- Cracked bathroom tiles
Preventative Measures
As a landlord, you are required by state and federal laws to provide habitable living accommodations for your tenants. Failure to do so will result in legal consequences and have a negative impact on your rental business.
It’s, therefore, necessary to have a preventative inspection and maintenance plan in place to ensure all safety standards are met. The following are several measures that a landlord should take to protect their properties and tenants:
Be Empathetic
During emergency circumstances, tenants may feel panicked. So for landlords, it’s vital to show empathy and extend your full cooperation. This will ensure that the situation is handled with a calm and rational approach.
Have an Open-door Policy
Every single occupant in your rental property should have easy access to you through phone, e-mail, or other means of communication. This will make it easy for them to report issues to you.
Provide Instructions
When renting out a property you should provide useful information and instructions on how to identify and handle maintenance issues. In addition to that, educate your tenants on how to act in an emergency situation.
Have Access to Emergency Services
The residents have the option to call emergency services themselves, however, as a landlord, you should also have the contact information for the police, fire department, and paramedics at your disposal. Sharing this information with tenants is also recommended.
Have Skilled Vendors at Your Disposal
Having a reliable network of skilled vendors like plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and maintenance workers is vital. You can either hire them on a permanent basis or on contract but make sure that they are available even after standard working hours.
Bottom Line
Running a rental property business comes with plenty of responsibilities. Managing all the daily affairs of the property can be daunting for an individual landlord. Nevertheless, every property owner needs to be aware of the basics of repair and emergency maintenance. Knowing the difference between what maintenance is an emergency and which ones are not, allows you to respond accordingly.
If you need help managing your rentals consider partnering with a professional property management company. Our team at Young Management will gladly help you manage your rentals to ensure your peace of mind and maximize your ROI. Contact us today to learn more about our services!