Routines to Prevent Maintenance Issues in Your Rental

As a tenant, most of the maintenance work is not your duty, and that is a significant benefit of being a renter. However, there are some basic things you should do in order to minimize the amount of maintenance that needs to be done, and to keep your home in good shape and condition.

Even as a renter, any maintenance issue is an inconvenience, so why not play your part in preventing that? Routine maintenance can sometimes be very expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, there are ways you can avoid emergency maintenance issues and keep your place in order. Here are some of the things you can do to prevent maintenance issues in your rental.

Keep the Air-Conditioner Working

The air-conditioner comes in handy on different occasions, especially on those scorching days. Nevertheless, if something goes wrong, the entire unit might stop working, and it could take a while to get a new one installed. As such, you can carry out routine checks on the system, and clean it regularly. Doing this would uncover any condensation, which can make the unit flood and risk filling your rental with water.

The output and the entire system can be weak due to debris and dirt. If you do not clean it regularly, the air-conditioning might lose some of its energy efficiency. If you suspect that the unit is less efficient and might break down, talk to your landlord about doing a routine check on it and preventing any further — potentially permanent — issues.

Pest Control

No one can live in a place that is infested with ants, rodents, cockroaches or other pests. Plus, these pests could even do severe damages to the unit. We recommend you do a proper cleaning regularly and try to keep an eye on the windows and the corners of the walls. Especially behind furniture, check every now and then for holes or damage, as small pests can enter through these. If you notice any pests, talk to your landlord and let them know of this issue, so that they can call professionals to help.

Checking the Water Heater

If your unit has an individual water heater, that should also be checked regularly to prevent maintenance issues. You could talk to your landlord, suggesting that they hire an expert to drain the water heater and get rid of the buildup once or twice a year. It is very burdensome to replace the entire system, both for the landlord and for yourself as the person living in that unit. These mindful routines will also save you some trouble down the line, as you do not want to be left stranded and short of water when you need it the most.

Consider Outsourcing

Maintenance tasks can pile up very quickly. As mentioned, it’s not all part of your responsibility, so don’t feel pressured to resolve issues which you are not familiar with. It’s important that you are mindful and observant, so you can alert your landlord from the very first signs of damage, so they can take action.

You can also recommend your landlord that they consider outsourcing. Hiring professionals to handle some of the tasks, especially some major ones, is the safest way to go. These professionals also have the right tools to handle these projects. You might need some tools like a solid plunge router to fix some things, which you might not have at home. Some tenants try to fix various issues they do not know in their rentals and only end up making things worse, so do not be afraid to talk to your landlord and avoid any potential problems.

Final Thoughts

When living in a rental property, taking care of it should be your concern, because in the end it benefits everyone. You need to maintain the apartment as if it is your own. Taking proper care of it also means you would be living in a healthy and safe environment. The tips in this guide will hopefully help you prevent maintenance issues in your rental while ensuring your rental is always in perfect shape.