As a Gwinnett property owner, it is beneficial to determine ahead of time who is responsible for what when it comes to basic rental property maintenance. To keep your rental property in prime condition and profitable, it’s relevant to have a proactive property maintenance system in place. This maintenance may be achieved by you or by a service technician. Be that as it may, there are certainly small and minor maintenance tasks that you can and should expect your tenant to do and complete. Normal wear and tear issues usually fall under the responsibility of the tenant; non-functional, deep-rooted issues usually require the help of the owner or a service technician. Here are several of the most common rental property maintenance tasks and who is generally responsible for each one:
Clogged toilets
If a toilet becomes clogged, it is naturally the tenant’s responsibility to clear the blockage. One of the main causes of toilet blockage is from tenant misuse or neglect.
Broken windows
If a window is broken, it is usually either the landlord’s or the tenant’s responsibility to repair or replace the window; the responsibility for window replacement lies with the basic reason for the breakage. If the window was broken due to tenant negligence or fault, they should pay to replace it. But, if a window is damaged due to severe weather or other occurrences out of a tenant’s control, the property owner is responsible for getting it replaced. Remember that this may be a security issue; mitigation is the key here.
Lightbulbs
Typically, tenants are responsible for replacing lightbulbs in their rental homes. Light fixtures are considered part of the tenant’s living space. There is one exception if the fuse in the fixture has blown, and is unable to light a new bulb after the tenant has attempted to replace it.
Carpeting and flooring
When you talk about the cleanliness of flooring, this would be a tenant’s responsibility. On a case-by-case basis, tenants will be responsible for damage to carpeting or flooring due to children, pets, or just flat-out neglect. In this situation, the tenant would need to pay for the repairs and/or cleaning. Many property management companies require tenants to pay for the cleaning of carpets after moving out, to ensure the house was left as clean as it was at the time of move-in.
Batteries in smoke and CO detectors
Smoke and CO detectors are considerably crucial for keeping a rental property safe. The batteries in these devices should be often tested and replaced when appropriate. A good rule of thumb is to change the batteries twice a year, around Daylight Savings time to ensure they are being replaced on a schedule.
Air filters
Air filters help keep the air in a rental property clean and free of pollutants. Typically, it’s the tenant’s responsibility to replace the air filters every few months. The Property Owner/Landlord however should supply tenants with the necessary information to ensure the tenant is using the correct size filter.
When assigning maintenance tasks to your tenants, it’s primarily important to indicate clear language delineating all responsibilities in your lease. This will help to suppress any problems or disagreements down the road. By taking in who is responsible for what towards rental property maintenance, you can keep your property in prime condition and avoid any potential legal problems in your Gwinnett County rental property.
Rental property maintenance can be laborious as well as time-consuming, most especially if you will be required to always check and follow through on whether your tenant is fulfilling their responsibilities. But Real Property Management of Greater Gwinnett can help. We are experts in single-family rental property management, and we can capably take care of all maintenance for you.
If you are looking to purchase a rental property in the Gwinnett area and need some professional management assistance, contact us today and we will be glad to guide you through the process!
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