As a Lawrenceville property owner, it is integral to take into account who is responsible for what when it comes to the subject of basic rental property maintenance. To keep your rental property in mint condition and profitable, it’s essential to have a proactive property maintenance system in place. This maintenance may be put into effect and administered by you or by a service technician. But certainly, there are some small maintenance tasks that you can and should expect your tenant to do. Here is a list of the most common rental property maintenance tasks and who is often responsible for each one:
Clogged toilets. If a toilet becomes clogged, it is often the tenant’s responsibility to free up the blockage. Although, there may be exceptions, such as, if the blockage is caused by plumbing issues unrelated to the tenant’s use. When this occurs, you would need to handle the repairs yourself or call a professional.
Broken windows. If a window is broken, it is either the landlord’s or the tenant’s responsibility to repair or replace the window. The reason for this is that the responsibility for window replacement lies with the root cause of the breakage. If the window was broken due to tenant negligence, they should pay to replace it. Be that as it may, on the contrary, if a window is damaged due to severe weather or other mishaps out of a tenant’s control, the property owner is responsible for paying to fix it. Know that this may be a security issue; mitigation is the key here.
Lightbulbs. Characteristically, tenants are responsible for replacing lightbulbs in their rental homes. The reason for this is that most light fixtures are considered part of the tenant’s living space.
Carpeting and flooring. When it comes to the cleanliness of flooring, this would be a tenant’s responsibility. If the flooring gets deformed or worn out, then the responsibility frequently falls to the Lawrenceville property manager. The fact of the matter is that these are basic elements of the property that see a lot of wear and tear over time. In some cases, nevertheless, tenants may be responsible for damage to carpeting or flooring. In this instance, the tenant would need to pay for the repairs.
Batteries in smoke and CO detectors. Smoke and CO detectors are pertinent for keeping a rental property safe. The batteries in these devices should be customarily tested and replaced if required. Sometimes, state law ascertains whether it is the landlord’s or the tenant’s responsibility to replace the batteries. Without much regard to whom the responsibility lies, as a landlord, it is important to check and replace batteries twice a year.
Air filters. Air filters help keep the air in a rental property clean and free of pollutants. Almost always, it’s the tenant’s responsibility to replace the air filters. Then again, numerous properties have air filter systems that tenants cannot instantly and easily access and change themselves. If that is true in your rental property, it is your responsibility to always check that your air filters are changed as often as needed.
When considering assigning maintenance tasks to your tenants, it’s often focal to use clear language outlining all responsibilities in your lease. This will help to stop any confusion or disagreements down the road. By making it clear who is responsible for what on the subject of rental property maintenance, you can keep your property in proper condition and stay away from any potential legal problems.
Rental property maintenance can be time-consuming, especially if you have to constantly check whether your tenant is fulfilling their responsibilities. But Real Property Management Executives Greater Atlanta definitely can help. We are experts in single-family rental property management, and we can take care of all maintenance for you. Contact us online to learn more about our top-quality services.
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