It’s just a fact of life that homes and apartments require a certain amount of maintenance and repairs over time – and as a landlord, it is likely that you have at least some amount of money budgeted for this. But the line is sometimes a bit blurred between when the property owner or the tenant should be responsible for repairing or replacing items that break.
As an “unwritten rule,” if a tenant breaks something, such as a stove or refrigerator – whether it is due to negligence or improper use – it should typically be his or her responsibility to fix or replace the broken item.
On the other hand, some landlords are guilty of placing an older or lower grade of appliances, fixtures, and other items in properties that are not their own personal residences – and should these items break or wear out due to normal wear and tear, then in most cases, it is up to the landlord / property owner to step up and take the responsibility for either replacing it, or repairing it, and getting it back to its usable condition.
One of the best ways to determine who is responsible for fixing or replacing what is to have it clearly outlined in the lease agreement. In fact, most leases will discuss which repairs are the responsibility of the landlord, and which may be up to the tenant.
One of the worst sounds that a landlord can hear is the phone ringing in the middle of the night with a tenant reporting a leaky toilet, clogged drain, or refrigerator that has gone kaput. If you want to continue receiving regular income from your investment property, but you’d rather not be on the other end of the phone when emergency situations arise at your rentals, then it may be time to bring an experienced property manager on board.
For property that is located in Orlando or the surrounding area of Central Florida, we can take those time-consuming (and frustrating) tasks off your hands. So, give us a call if you’d like to learn more about how a property manager can benefit you.
