When a resident calls with an emergency maintenance request, most property managers are conscious that they need to take action instantly. However, what are the less urgent upkeep requests, and which maintenance requests are emergencies that demand immediate attention? This is one of the more challenging inquiries for property owners to respond to since not all concerns, even ones that are irritating or inconvenient, are true emergencies. On the other side, other maintenance issues are sufficiently dangerous to be addressed immediately or risk violating Landlord/Tenant laws or habitability codes. Recognizing the gap between the two will allow you to excellently handle all your renter’s maintenance requests.
What defines an emergency repair?
One way to know when you have a true emergency on your hands or not is to evaluate to what degree the maintenance issue could cause injury, severe property damage, or compromise your resident’s health and safety. Any concern that would fit these parameters would commonly be considered an emergency. Common emergencies are as follows:
- Gas Leak
- Frozen or Broken Water Lines
- Flooding or Water Emergencies
- Fire
- Carbon Monoxide Detection
- Sewer Back-up
- No Heat in Cold Weather
- No Air Conditioning in Extremely Hot Temperatures
- Extended Power Outage
- Intruder Break-In
Determining an Emergency from Non-Emergency
Recognizing that certain maintenance items may be emergencies in some situations but not in others is important. In cold climate, for illustration, a broken air conditioner is not an emergency. Yet, during a heatwave, when temperatures reach dangerous levels, it most definitely is.
Forgetting to respond immediately to emergencies like these – incorporating those that emerge in the middle of the night – could violate habitability laws and, ultimately, produce serious legal trouble. This is mostly true if your carelessness prompts your tenant to take matters into their own hands and arrange or make the repairs themselves.
Non-Emergency Maintenance Types
However, such maintenance issues are not usually believed as emergencies unless there are extenuating circumstances, even when they are irritating. To illustrate, a malfunctioning appliance, chilly water, or minimal leaks may be troublesome for your residents but typically not involved in the category of emergency repair. These maintenance issues should be reported as regular maintenance requests, which you may deal with during business hours.
For rental property owners, being mindful of what constitutes an emergency maintenance issue and how to respond appropriately plays a major role in excellent property management. If you have other responsibilities or are unable to answer such requests punctually, it might be best to hire a quality property management company that operates the Green Hills area and beyond. Contact us online or call 623-217-0413 to get details about what Real Property Management Concordia has to deliver for rental property owners like you.
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