Residential rental lease agreements typically list the responsibilities of the parties involved. But it is impossible to include everything in the contract. This can lead to some confusion as to who should be handling certain issues.
Because the answer is not always black and white, here are a few guidelines to help you make the best decision when questions about maintenance or requests for repair arise.
A Landlord’s Maintenance and Repair Responsibilities
As the owner of the property, landlords want to ensure that it is maintained properly, addressing repairs right away. But when you have a current tenant, what are you responsible for? When do you need to act — and when do you need to leave it in the hands of the tenant?
Below are a few of the responsibilities that landlords should expect to handle. Keep in mind this references issues from normal wear and tear. Misuse or abuse from the tenant may require additional steps.
Habitability. The landlord is responsible for providing the tenant with a place that is habitable, up to code, and structurally sound with services, such as electricity, water, plumbing, etc. Keeping them functioning properly is the responsibility of the landlord.
Appliances. It is common for landlords to be responsible for the maintenance and repair of the major appliances in the home– if they are provided. This includes issues like warm refrigerators, leaky water heaters, and noisy dishwashers.
Common areas. Any common areas, including hallways, laundry facilities, parking lots, and so forth are the landlord’s responsibility to maintain.
Pests. Nobody wants to live with bugs or rodents who have taken up residence in the rental. Investing in routine preventative pest control services is always a good idea. Otherwise, you will want to resolve any issues as they arise.
Are Tenants Responsible for Maintenance and Repair?
Tenants often move into a rental property with the mindset that their landlord will handle most maintenance and repair needs of the property. However, tenants do have responsibilities when it comes to taking care of the rental property.
Generally, a tenant should expect to handle any normal wear and tear, including replacing light bulbs, unclogging drains, changing air filters, and minor plumbing issues, for instance.
Tenants are often responsible for maintaining the lawn, cleaning the gutters, and keeping the inside and outside of the home clean. Any damage that is done should be repaired — at the tenant’s expense.
Tips for Maintenance and Repair Questions
Make sure your lease agreement is clear. Be sure to list out the responsibilities so that there is no confusion as to who should be handling what. Go over these details at the lease signing and encourage the new tenant to ask any questions necessary for clarification.
Ensure you have a procedure in place for reporting and responding to repair requests. You want your tenants to have an easy, set procedure for submitting a request when something needs your attention. This will help you keep everything organized so that nothing gets missed.
Of course, it can always be beneficial to enlist the help of a property management team. They often have systems set up for handling routine maintenance, taking repair calls, and a network of individuals to handle them professionally.
Let a Property Management Team Handle Your Maintenance and Repair
At Virginia Property Management Group, we understand that owning a rental property can be a great investment — and a lot of work. When you hire a property management team you can trust, you will free up your schedule while feeling confident that your rental is in good hands.
Want to learn more about what we offer as licensed realtors for property management in Northern Virginia? Contact us today at (571) 749-2622.