As a property owner and landlord you need to ensure you are fully aware of your obligations and the landlord maintenance services you need to provide. Whether you act as a landlord or use a property management team like the ones you can find here, you need to be sure about a lot of things. Your tenant has the right to a dignified property, but disputes frequently arise when it comes to the question of who has to pay for repairs to the property. Below is a look at what you legally have to fix, and what is expected of you as a landlord.
Landlord Maintenance Services : What you Must Fix
As a landlord the best way to ensure your property is always legal and in good condition is to employ a property management team. As a landlord, you need to keep your properties in habitable conditions. The build must be structurally sound, with no leaks, and with hot and cold water. Plumbing and electrical installations need to be safe and up to date and annual gas inspections are necessary by law.
Problems with boilers and heating systems must be fixed by the landlord. Also, pest extermination must be carried out by the landlord, regardless of how the property came to be infested. This is unless it can be proven that the infestation was due to severe bad housekeeping on the part of the tenant.
Landlord Maintenance Services : What is the Tenant Responsible for?
Your tenant is responsible for carrying out minor repair such as replacing light bulbs and fixing dripping taps or running toilets. Grime and dirt and small holes in carpets and upholstery as also the responsibility of the tenant and as a landlord you are under no obligation to repair cosmetic defects.
The only time that you may be responsible for carrying out minor repairs is if it is written in the tenancy agreement. Tenants may put in a request to you or your management team to carry out repairs. Such repairs could be small or larger depending on the length of the tenancy. After many years in a house, window frames may need replacing. Normal wear and tear over years should be expected and damages are not always the fault of sloppy tenants.
As a landlord you may be reported if you fail to keep up with repairs. Also, you may be in trouble if your tenants cause problems that disturb the neighbours or they fall behind on their rent. These are reasons why using the services of a property management team make sense. Although there is a monthly costs attached to using the services of professional management teams, it is money well spent.
If you have more than one property in your portfolio or you are buying properties for rental then it is advisable to leave rent collection in the hands of the experts. Snapping up bargain properties could be your ticket to a solid income over years to come. But unless you have the time to vet your tenants yourself, it could also be the start of your worst nightmare.