Dividing the maintenance responsibilities between tenants and landlords is a pretty common practice when you’re renting out a Kelowna property. Taking care of the home is a shared responsibility. While you own the property, your tenant is living in it. Together, you can protect the condition of your investment and preserve its value. You can also make sure it’s a safe, habitable, and desirable home for current and future residents.
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Let’s talk specifically about the landlord’s responsibilities today. Even if you reach an understanding with your tenants about their willingness to take care of minor maintenance issues, you’ll always be responsible for the overall condition of the home.
Comply with Safety, Health, and Habitability Standards
Your first and most important responsibility as a landlord is to make sure the property is habitable. Your tenants will expect to move into a home that’s safe and functional. Before they move in, conduct a thorough inspection to look for any deferred maintenance or issues that may jeopardize your resident’s health and safety.
This includes:
- Checking for potential leaks and plumbing issues with sinks, toilets, and tubs.
- Testing each appliance to make sure it works.
- Plugging something into each outlet to make sure the electricity works.
- Inspecting exterior lighting.
- Checking that the doors and windows lock, open, and close properly.
- Trimming away any hedges, trees, or bushes that impede a tenant’s view of the outside.
- Looking for hazards like loose railings or broken steps.
- Installing and testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Respond Immediately to Emergency Maintenance Issues
If something goes wrong at the property, be prepared to respond immediately. Tenants will need to know how to get in touch with you or your Kelowna property managers. Make sure they understand the process of identifying and reporting an emergency. A clogged drain does not require a phone call in the middle of the night, but a leak from a burst pipe that is flooding the home certainly does. You’ll want them to call emergency services first if anyone is in danger, and then get in touch with you or your property management company.
Be Responsive with Routine Repairs
Landlords are also responsible for taking care of general issues around the home that are deteriorating or breaking down due to wear and tear. Your residents will be responsible for anything they damage, including problems that occur due to misuse or neglect. But, if something breaks because it’s old, you are the party responsible for making the repair.
Don’t put these things off. If you wait too long to make a minor repair, you have a good chance of spending more time and money on it later.
Landlords are also responsible for preventative maintenance. Have your major heating and cooling systems inspected and serviced annually. Pest control should be dealt with immediately to avoid bigger issues. While in many cases lawn maintenance and snow removal are the tenants responsibility ensure to do regular inspections to look for larger issues in the yard. Not only are these things your responsibility, but they’re also an important part of protecting your investment.
We can help with your maintenance process and questions. Contact our team at Vantage West Property Management.