As a landlord, you will have certain responsibilities and duties when it comes to maintenance and repairs to the property. It’s important to understand the local laws in your area so you can make sure you are following them with your tenants. Of course, hiring a good property management company can help.
If you’re considering becoming a landlord, there are some maintenance needs that are more common than others. Let’s look at some of the types of maintenance you want to focus on the most as a landlord.
Top 5 Common Maintenance Needs for Landlords
1. Routine Preventative Maintenance
While you might think you can just sit back and wait for a tenant to submit a maintenance request, this is often a mistake. Often, tenants don’t know something is wrong until it stops working. With routine preventative maintenance, you can help systems and appliances in the home last longer.
You want to have the HVAC system checked once or twice a year, along with other things, such as sump pumps, stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators, and other appliances. This can save you in the long run as preventative maintenance can help you avoid larger repair bills.
2. Emergency Maintenance
Another very common type of maintenance you will deal with as a landlord is emergency maintenance. This will come directly from your tenant and will include things you need to get fixed ASAP. It could be a broken-down AC unit in the heat of the summer, a burst pipe, a toilet emergency, an unsecured entry door, or another issue that cannot wait.
Make sure you take these requests from your tenants seriously. Even if you don’t think it’s an emergency, for them, it could be. Plus, some of the repairs that fall into this category can help you avoid larger issues if they are fixed quickly.
3. Property Turnover Maintenance
When a tenant moves out, it’s time to go to work and get that property rented. This often means a new coat of paint, fixing any damage from the tenants, cleaning the carpets and floorings, and having a professional cleaning service come in and clean the entire property. With good property turnover maintenance, you can get your rental back on the market fast.
4. Seasonal Maintenance
This type of maintenance can depend on your location. It might include having the gutters cleaned before the winter comes or taking care of snow removal during the winter. There are many tasks that might fall into this category, depending on your location.
5. Other Maintenance
There are other types of maintenance you might do when the property needs turned over or just from time to time, too. Sometimes, tenants move out in a hurry and leave behind furniture and other things. You might need to rent a dumpster or hire a junk removal service to dispose of these items.
It might also be necessary to provide pest control services. Maybe the tenant was a bit dirtier and an infestation happened or it was just an overly hot summer and bugs got into the home. Either way, pest control could be something you need to provide.
If you plan on becoming a landlord, make sure you’re aware of the different types of maintenance you might need to handle. Remember, prevention can help save you in the long run, especially on major systems.
