No one wants to live in messy, damaged, and unmaintained rental properties. Poor maintenance is the primary reason tenants like you choose to leave and find another rental.
Usually, the landlord or property manager takes care of most of the necessary repairs, particularly regarding the building's structure and furnishings. According to Idaho's rental maintenance law, landlords or property management must respond immediately when tenants request repair or maintenance that involves emergency repairs related to health and safety risks. If not, you have the right to withhold rent. Meanwhile, for other maintenance or repairs, your landlord only has 3-5 days to address the issue.
Do you know tenants also have maintenance and repair tasks on the rental property, specifically your rental units? These responsibilities can be found on your lease agreement, but as per state and local laws, they include keeping the property clean and sanitary, proper garbage disposal, and the appropriate use of appliances, electrical fixtures, and plumbing facilities.
Maintaining your rental unit is an essential part of being a good tenant. Knowing what's expected of you and doing preventative maintenance will help keep your home always clean and comfortable for you and your neighbors.
This article will tackle the common DIY property maintenance tasks you can work on as a tenant.
1. Set up Inspections for Electrical Systems
Your landlord usually handles this responsibility, but it is always a good practice for you as a tenant to do the same. Checking the safety of your appliances regularly can give you peace of mind and security since you know there is a lower chance of an electrical fire starting from your unit.
Also, take note of the general rule for maintaining your appliances. You are responsible for its maintenance, repair costs, and replacement if you bought it.
2. Ensuring Your Rental Unit's Safety
Various safety hazards must be checked during your DIY property maintenance. Ensure your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are in excellent condition, and check the fire extinguishers regularly for added safety. Clear any obstructions from your emergency exits.
3. Invest in Fireproof Furniture
Tenants pay maintenance fees if they are deemed responsible for the repair costs. To avoid any extra charges, it would be great to invest in furniture and furnishings that are both fire and health-safety compliant.
4. Keep the Rental Property Clean and Sanitary
One of the most important responsibilities for DIY property maintenance you have as a tenant is keeping your home clean. Shared places like the kitchen, bathroom, and living rooms should be cleaned regularly. It doesn't have to be professionally clean. Simple wiping, sweeping, and mopping the floors and surfaces will do the trick.
You are also usually responsible for the outdoor or seasonal maintenance of your rental home, so check your lease agreement for that. You can do this DIY property maintenance by cutting back plants, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, and spreading salt if needed.
5. Comply with all Your Housing Codes
Anytime you plan on redecorating or renovating your current rental unit, it is crucial to comply with your rental housing codes and ask permission from your landlord. Some landlords may allow you to decorate your unit however you want, while others don't.
Another thing you must be careful of is allowing too many guests in your unit. Overloading your home, especially with unauthorized occupants, may increase the risks and wear and tear of your unit.
6. Seal Any Cracks or Holes
These damages are not from normal wear. We're talking about when you decorate your home or install new furniture or appliances. This may sometimes require you to put holes in your walls or ceilings. Make sure that you cover them up when you remove or relocate your things to avoid these little holes or cracks from getting bigger.
7. Repair Broken Fittings
Another DIY property maintenance task you can work on as a tenant is replacing broken fittings or handles in your unit. The odds are high that you can get similar ones in a hardware shop for a minimal price.
9. Stop Mold from Spreading
In the event of a leak or an accumulation of too much moisture, mold will eventually grow. You can do some DIY property maintenance when this happens. Meanwhile, leaks are already landlord repair responsibilities, so notify them if you find one.
10. Get Rid of Stains
Wear gloves when doing DIY property maintenance to remove stains. These are essential since you might need to use different chemicals or powerwash your unit to eliminate them. Otherwise, you can send them to a dry cleaner if they are too difficult to remove.
11. Repair Damages Caused by Guests
You are responsible for fixing or replacing any damage caused by your guests. Tell your landlord promptly about it and ask how to fix it. Some landlords are glad to replace these damages by themselves, while others prefer to hire experts for major repairs. Then, you will have to shoulder the costs for it.
12. Light Bulb Replacement
Light bulb replacement is a common DIY property maintenance you can do as a tenant. This is because they don't last forever and often stop working after a while. The good thing is that you can easily replace this fixture, so you won't have to bother your landlord for it.
13. Upkeep the Painting
Children love to show their art not just on paper but also on your home's walls. As a tenant, you can do DIY property maintenance and touch up your walls with brand-new paint. If you neglect this tenant's responsibility, your landlord will deduct this damage from your deposit.
14. Ensure that Your Unit is Well-Ventilated
You have to utilize your exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom if they are available in your rental unit. This will give your unit property ventilation and enough air to prevent molds from building up in your unit. If exhaust fans are unavailable, you can open the windows to let fresh air into the house.
15. Dispose Your Wastes Properly
Always remember to separate your recyclables from your regular garbage and follow any local waste disposal regulations. Use the designated trash cans installed by your landlord or property management and follow their guidelines when disposing of your garbage.
Choose a Rental Property that Has Dedicated Maintenance Experts
When searching for rental property, it is important to consider if they have a dedicated group of professionals assigned to make your maintenance and repair requests. We know how frustrating it would be on your part when your landlord fails to address your maintenance concerns or when your repair requests are either ignored or poorly handled.
Here at 1st Rate Property Management, we prioritize our tenants' repair requests and maintenance concerns. We offer a 24/7 tenant portal that allows you to report any concerns you have about your living spaces at any time of the day.
Our Maintenance page has troubleshooting FAQs for tenants to help you fix minor repair tasks and avoid extra maintenance fees. If you can't find your maintenance concern on our list or are unable to resolve the problem after following the troubleshooting steps, please feel free to log in to your Tenant Portal and fill out the maintenance form.
Are you eager to find your new rental home with us? Find your perfect home from our Rentals page and drop us a message now!