Certain maintenance responsibilities fall on both the tenant and the landlord, but some duties are simply covered by the property owner alone. It is in accordance with state and local laws and helps landlords ensure that their rental properties are habitable to attract tenants.
Exterior Maintenance
Roof Inspection
Regularly inspect the roof for displaced shingles, leaks, damages, or debris buildup and immediately address the issue when there is one. Even the smallest leak can damage ceilings and walls and cause mold growth.
Foundation Check
The state of your property's foundation says a lot about how structurally sound it is. Ensure the safety of your tenants by monitoring them for cracks or signs of settling. If so, it's best to conduct repairs to prevent the condition from worsening.
Outdoor Maintenance
Maintaining the exterior of your rental property makes it more attractive to potential renters. Keep it clean to avoid pests, and try to spruce the place up when normal wear and tear becomes apparent. It also wouldn”t hurt to maintain the plants on your property if you have them.
Interior Maintenance
Plumbing
Try to have the plumbing fixtures in your rental property inspected at least every three months, and address maintenance issues right away such as malfunctioning toilets, clogged drains, or leaky faucets. Broken plumbing will only cause inconveniences to you and your tenants.
Electrical Systems
It can be extremely dangerous to have faulty electrical systems as it can cause a fire, harm your tenants, and destroy your investment property. It's the landlord's responsibility to conduct regular property maintenance to prevent this.
HVAC Systems
To keep the tenants in your rental unit comfortable, your heating and cooling systems should be in working order. It's advisable to conduct preventative maintenance by regularly inspecting and cleaning your HVAC systems, especially the air conditioner.
Smoke Detectors
Local building codes and state laws vary in this regard, but Indiana landlords are legally required to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their rental properties. You must also address maintenance requests within seven working days to avoid violations.
Appliances
If your rental property comes with appliances like laundry machines, you might also need to conduct regular inspections to make sure they are working properly. That frequency could depend on the conditions you stated in the lease agreement.
Flooring
Keeping the floor and the carpets clean is the tenant's responsibility, but it's your job as a landlord to still make necessary repairs or replacements to ensure tenants that they live in a safe property. For example, you might need to replace carpets when normal wear starts showing.
Mold and Pest Control
Tenants are responsible for keeping the premises clean, but that still doesn't guarantee that they will be free from things like pest infestation or mold growth. There are health risks when a landlord fails to address pest or mold issues, and landlord-tenant law states that property owners must address it unless the tenant causes it.
Why Property Maintenance is Crucial
It Is Required by Law
Keeping the property clean and safe is included in the long list of landlord responsibilities. If the landlord refuses to address issues within the rental property, it can lead to legal issues, which is much more complicated than a simple fix.
It Preserves the Value of Your Property
Keeping your rental property in good condition will help keep or increase its property value. This can be a good thing when you intend to sell your property down the road. If you feel like the checklist is too long for you to handle alone, you can always hire a property manager to conduct maintenance inspections for you.
It Keeps Your Tenants Safe
Simple things like cleaning the air filters, providing proper trash receptacles, and tending to other repair responsibilities contribute to the overall safety of your tenants. This can help you create a good reputation for your rental property, and you'll fulfill your responsibility as a landlord.
It Improves Landlord-Tenant Relationships
Your tenants are more likely to follow lease agreement terms when you hold up your end of the bargain by addressing maintenance issues. Otherwise, you might encounter tenants who withhold rent or end lease terms without proper notice.
You'll Save More in the Long Run
Maintaining your property and conducting inspections regularly can help you identify issues early on, which means that you can still fix them before they get worse. Addressing the issues late can become more complicated and costly.
How to Handle Repairs and Maintenance
Provide Them with Contact Information
Your tenants should be able to reach out when they need something fixed, as it is one of your responsibilities as the landlord. You can also delegate the task to a property management company. CRM Properties, for instance, has a maintenance request button on the website for the tenant's convenience.
Communicate with Tenants
Although you're the landlord, you still have to provide proper notice to your tenants before you enter the property tp conduct inspections for maintenance. You can do this via SMS, a written notice, or other forms of notice as long as the tenant is aware of the upcoming inspection and acknowledges it.
Document Maintenance and Repairs
Having records of your maintenance checks and repairs can benefit you in the future when it is needed for proof or reference. Keep those records which include itemized receipts and other forms of records. In case you land in legal trouble, these can be used as legal documents.
Hiring a Property Manager for Maintenance
Knowing what your maintenance responsibilities are is different from having the capacity to fulfill them. Basic maintenance on top of tenant requests can be a lot for just one person, and hiring property managers like CRM Properties can give you peace of mind. Plus, you'll have more time to explore other profitable ventures.
Not only do we perform routine repairs and emergency responses, but our company also works with only the best vendors and contractors in the area. You can check out the services we provide, or better yet, schedule a free consultation to determine how we can help maximize your property's value.