5 Rental Repairs to Never Postpone
When you own rental property, you’re going to make repairs periodically. Here are five repairs to tackle right away.
1. Water damage to the roof
Water will do serious damage to your roof before you even know something is wrong. By the time you or your tenant notice the water dripping, the damage has been done and it will only continue to get progressively worse.
When you have a leak in the roof, the water will seep through and find its way into the ceiling. When left alone, this can rot the plywood sheathing, create a mold problem, and destroy the insulation. Eventually, the drywall will absorb the water and become too heavy, separate from the nails in the frame, and come crashing down.
According to property managers at Crown Luxury, your tenants can sue you if you don’t make repairs in a reasonable amount of time. What’s reasonable is subjective, but it’s safe to say you should handle the issue within a month or less. If you don’t, you risk being sued for failing to provide a habitable dwelling unit.
2. Any and all roof repairs
In addition to water damage, other roof repairs also need to be done immediately. For example, if you have broken masonry in your chimney, loose or missing shingles, cracked vents, or excessive moss and lichen, all of these issues should be handled immediately before further damage is done.
Cracked chimneys are a safety hazard and can let water into the roof. The same goes for cracked vents. If you find yourself with cracked vents often, stop using the cheap plastic ones and get something more high-quality. Your roofing company will likely have better vents available. They cost more, but they’re more durable and last longer.
3. Plumbing issues
If your property has a septic system, it’s crucial to address plumbing issues immediately. If there’s a backup or a busted pipe, it’s going to be unpleasant for your tenant. Addressing plumbing issues immediately helps to eliminate the potential for worse damage down the road.
With a septic system, you normally need to pump it on a routine basis and the frequency will depend on the size of the tank and how many people are living in the house. However, there are septic-safe tablets you can use that eat the waste to cut down on the frequency. Many people use them in emergencies when their tanks overflow, and in just hours, the overflow recedes drastically. They’re also great for regular maintenance on a monthly basis and will keep your septic system free from clogs.
4. Broken windows
Nobody wants to deal with a broken window. Whether it’s a crack or a hole, a broken window will let cold air in along with wind, moisture in the air, and insects. If the hole is large enough, other bugs and animals might come through, like moths, frogs, and snails. A hole in a window can also be an invitation to someone who might decide to break into the house when nobody’s home.
Never leave your tenants with a broken window for a long period of time. Always treat this repair as an emergency, especially in the winter when it’s going to be cold, rainy, and possibly snowing.
5. Electrical problems
If you have any electrical issues in your rental, it’s important to take care of them because they can potentially cause a fire. For example, dead outlets, fried outlets, and outlets that are loose and coming off the wall are essential to fix. Sometimes it’s just a matter of wires that popped out of place from the pressure, but other times you might find that the person who built your electrical system didn’t screw the wires down.
You might also find improperly wired outlets and GFCI outlets that are wired backward, which is a common mistake made by DIYers and can be dangerous. A GFCI outlet wired backward will usually trip the breaker, but in the case of a ground fault, it will only interrupt/open the neutral wire and not the hot, which eliminates protection against electric shock.
Another common electrical problem is a short circuit, which is a fire hazard due to the excessive heat. All electrical issues should be inspected by a licensed professional and then repaired promptly.
Stay on top of all repairs
You’re going to be required to address repairs and maintenance on a regular basis, and some things can’t be postponed. Make sure you address all tenant concerns regarding repairs in a timely manner to keep your tenants happy and avoid lawsuits down the road.
