Taking Care Of Your Property

Taking Care Of The Property

Living in a rental property brings up questions of how to care for the residence. The property should be treated with respect and free of intentional damage, of course, there are areas where the renter might not be sure of their responsibility or privileges in their position as the tenant. An agreement will, in most instances, clearly state answers to any questions. The agreement will point out what the leasing companys and the renters responsibilities are.

Care for the Property Like it Is Your Own

The idea behind treating a rental property like your own home is appropriate but in reality often times will not be true. You should treat it in the same manner you would if it were your own home. Simply, this means the renter should not do damages intentionally or neglect repairs needlessly. Often this will not happen because the renter is not free to do modifications without permission through the contract.

Obtain Assistance from the Manager

The manager of a rental property is there for the renter to get assistance when repairs are needed. These repairs that fall under the contract might include plumbing needs such as clogged drains, fixing or replacing broken appliances and installing new lighting fixtures. The contract will specify what items are the responsibilities of the property owner or manager, even if the renter is able to perform the repairs themselves. Renters can be held liable for damages if they attempt to fix the items themselves. Although the renter may be capable of performing some or all of these actions, the agreement may specify these items are the responsibility of the property owner or manager. Renters who make an attempt to fix these items may be held legally responsible for damages that can crop up during these attempts.

Agreements can imply, simply by leaving out certain items, what the renter is responsible for. Usually these are small items such as replacing light bulbs or something like that. The renter is allowed to make the changes needed in these instances. If the agreement states the manager will handle certain types of complaints, the renter should let the management know quickly.

Manager Complaints

Occasionally the manager of a rental property does not respond to complaints from renters. Situations brought to the attention of the manager are often not dealt with. The renter can bring complaints against the manager to the attention of the supervisor of the manager. The responsiveness of the manager to address repairs and concerns is necessary for the safety for the tenants. When the manager fails to do so, the tenants should not be afraid of retaliation for reporting the lack of care. The contract specifies the rights of the renter to complain to higher authority when the quality of service is not satisfactory.

When you live in a rental property, you often have questions on how the maintenance of the residence should be handled. The property should be treated with respect. The contract will specify the types of maintenance each party is responsible for. When repairs or problems are needed, a renter needs to report them to the manager. The manager is responsible for addressing and fixing any possible problems in a timely manner. When those complaints are not met by the manager, or satisfactorily addressed, the supervisor should be contacted.