5 best maintenance practices to keep tenants satisfied and keep the property owner and management out of legal trouble.
By Nancy Abrams
It is a landlord’s legal responsibility to keep their properties habitable. If they do not do so, their tenants will not be happy and the property owner can end up in court.
What does the landlord need to do to prevent this? Below are five areas where good maintenance practices will keep tenants satisfied and the property owner out of legal trouble.
Routine maintenance and proactive actions are the first steps to preventing problems before they pop up and create disgruntled tenants so here are 5 best maintenance practices.
1. Prioritize Maintenance Requests
- Determine whether the need is urgent or an emergency.
- Such issues as a power loss, burst pipe, a fire or HVAC failure are issues of habitability for your tenants and cost potentially thousands of dollars in damage if not immediately rectified.
- Take care of high-priority maintenance requests.
- If ignored, high-priority issues could pose a significant financial risk or will negatively affect a tenant’s ability to live safely in the unit.
- Leaking roofs or pipes, a bedbug infestation, or most broken in-unit appliances qualify as high-priority problems.
- Medium-priority requests are preventative maintenance.
- Examples of medium-priority issues can include seasonal maintenance tasks such as debris and bush removal for fire prevention, slip prevention in the fall and winter and other issues that could pose a risk to tenants in the near future.
- How to assess low-priority maintenance requests
- Tasks such as replacing the oven’s light bulb, cosmetic wall repairs, etc. do not pose a safety risk or cause damage to the property. However, they are important to the tenant and must be addressed in a timely manner.
2. Preemptive HVAC Service
Regular HVAC tune-ups and monthly air filter replacements ensure that heating and air-conditioning systems run efficiently, preventing breakdowns and tenant discomfort in extreme weather.
3. Prevent Plumbing Issues
Plumbing problems are some of the most common tenant complaints and must be attended to immediately to prevent further damage. A burst pipe suddenly flooding a kitchen is an issue of habitability for your tenants and will cost thousands of dollars in damage if not immediately repaired. Landlords should respond immediately to plumbing leaks, which could also lead to mold issues.
4, Faulty Electrical Systems Are Fire Hazards
Regularly testing smoke detectors, upgrading outdated systems and ensuring that all electrical outlets are operating properly can prevent emergencies and demonstrate to tenants that they are being protected by management.
5. Outdoor Maintenance
A leaking roof can make plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems vulnerable and tenants unhappy. A certified roofing professional should inspect the roof and make any necessary repairs.
Happy Tenants Equal Renewals
Tenants want to feel secure knowing their landlord takes maintenance seriously. These 5 best maintenance practices and quick responses to repair requests, such as fixing a leaking faucet or a broken heater, show that their comfort and well-being are a priority. A well-maintained home makes tenants more likely to renew their leases, while delayed repairs can create frustration and drive them to look for housing elsewhere.
About the author:
Nancy Abrams currently serves as content editor for the American Apartment Owners Association (AAOA), which assists landlords, property managers, real estate owners and brokers across the country with managing their properties, including tenant credit checks and tenant background screening as well as state-specific landlord forms, such as a rental application or rental agreement. The association also offers resources from educational webinars and landlord tenant law to approved providers for insurance and financing. Contact us today to learn more.