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What
are Your Landlord Responsibilities for
Home Repairs and Maintenance? PART 1
If
you own or manage rental properties, it is crucial that you know you
know your landlord responsibilities when dealing with
property repairs and maintenance. Keeping your real estate in
good condition is a shared responsibility between you and your tenants.
Find out exactly what type of repairs you have to handle and which ones
your tenants have to fix.
What Property
Maintenances are You Responsible for as a Landlord?
As
a landlord, the first and most important rule is to remember
that keeping the
condition of your property in
"habitable" condition is part of the landlord responsibilities. By
habitable we mean that your property has to
meet the health and safety standards set by the laws of your area.
If
the property damage is not due to neglect or abuse by your tenants and
affects this habitable condition of your property, then it's up to the
landlord to fix it.
Even in this case, it's the tenant's job to inform his landlord of the
damage. You will not be held responsible for the repairs until you know
of the matter.
In most countries, landlord responsibilities involves
providing basic conveniences such as running hot and cold
water,
plumbing, electrical wiring, heating / cooling systems, smoke detectors
and proper ventilation.
You will be responsible for the
structure and exterior of your property which includes the ceiling,
roof, doors and windows. If you own a property with public areas such
as corridors, staircases and parking lots, it is under
your landlord
responsibilities
too.
Depending
on the terms of your contract, you
may also be responsible for the working conditions of your appliances
such as the washing machine or kitchen stove.
If your
tenants
are nice folks, you can also try asking them to arrange for repairs
and foot the repair bills for you first. You can then deduct this
repair
cost from their rent payments. For example if the monthly rent is
$1000 and the repair bills add up to $200, your tenants will pay you
$800 next month.
This is
usually a win-win
situation if your tenants agree to do it because you save the headache
of having to make repairs yourself and your property can be up and
running quicker. Just remember to ask your tenants to keep the receipt
of the repair bills so that you can double check the amount.
What
Type of Rental Property Repairs are Your Tenants in Charge of?
When
they are staying in your rental property, it is your tenant's duty to
take
proper care of it. If they cause damage to your
rental property or its contents accidentally or on purpose, they will
be responsible for making timely repairs and footing the bill for it.
If any damage is caused by their occupants or visitors, your tenants
will naturally be held responsible for the repairs as well.
Your tenants will also have to keep your rental property clean and
tidy. While there is no exact definition for "cleanliness", your
property should at least be clean enough to meet basic health and
safety standards.
For example if the property is so dirty that it causes
a rat infestation, you can order your tenants to clean it up or face
eviction. Another case will your property being so tidy and overflowing
with junk that it becomes a fire hazard.
If your tenants are
using your facilities for improper purposes or making any property
changes without your permission, they will also have to pay for any
repairs resulting from their actions.
We had a tenant who
actually removed the roof of our rental property's garage and converted
it into open barbecue area. For our case, we made him restore the
garage roofing before he was given a refund of his security deposits.
In
most cases, your tenants will be responsible of the garbage removal and
although this arrangement can be changed according to the terms of your
rental contract.
Now that you have a good
idea on
what you and your tenants are accountable for, what can you do if your
tenant
refuses to make any necessary repairs?
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