What are a Landlord’s Responsibilities for Rental Property Repairs?

If you have owned rental property for any length of time, chances are that at some point, repairs will need to be made. But, because most repairs can cost money (in some cases, quite a bit), whose responsibility is it to pay for the repair or replacements in question?

To narrow down the answer to this question, there some important considerations to keep in mind. First, by law, tenants have the right to reside in rental property that is deemed as “habitable.”

With that in mind, there are a number of minor issues that the landlord / property owner is not required by law to fix. These can include items such as a torn window screen, a dripping faucet, or imperfections in the tile or carpet.

So, while these things may cause a minor inconvenience to the tenant(s), they won’t typically cause harm to the occupant(s) of a rental property, nor will they make the property unable to be comfortably lived in.

It is also important to note that various items can be included in the lease agreement. For instance, in exchange for a higher amount of monthly rent, you may agree to making even minor repairs, if or when the need arises.

In addition, having a good understanding of both the state and the local building codes can be beneficial, as these may require a landlord to make various repairs that are generally otherwise left up to your discretion.

If you find that maintaining your rental property(ies) and collecting rent from tenants has become too time consuming, it could work to your benefit to hire an experienced property manager.

By going this route, you can delegate some – or even all – of the property maintenance, and the tenant management duties. To find out more about how working with a property management company could benefit you and your rental property endeavor, just contact us.