As a beginning landlord you might not know how to handle some of the property management basics like repairs, maintenance, and how to handle them. If you’ve ever lived in an apartment, or rented property, then you probably know that it is the landlords duty to handle any repairs of damage not caused by the tenant.
If the Tenant Caused the Damage
Usually, if the tenant is directly responsible for the damage, then you can bill them, and/or take the money out of their security deposit. This is part of the fair tenant housing act. However, if you use the security deposit to repair damage caused by negligence or vandalism. Examples of negligence caused damage include unauthorized painting or cosmetic changes, extreme grime or dirt buildup, holes drilled in tile, and et cetera are all tenant caused problems. Basic wear and tear is not.
Regular Maintenance and Repairs
You are responsible, by law, for keeping the unit livable for your tenant and that means a certain amount of repairs and maintenance. The best way to prevent costs is to do preventive maintenance and that also costs money. If you’re wondering about the exact process of handling repairs in Bothell, use the following:
Give the Tenant a Phone Number – If you have more than then units then you may want to set up a phone number specifically for repairs and maintenance. Otherwise, ensure that the tenants know your phone number so that they can call in the case of repairs or an emergency.
Talk to a Maintenance Company – Unless you’re a maintenance whiz then you will want to talk to a local maintenance company about doing house calls and fixing things for you. There are several companies that specialize in apartment maintenance in the Puget Sound area, so look around and see what you can find. You should be able to set up a charge per visit rate with the company and then only have to pay for per hour for actual repairs. Then, when you get a call from a tenant, solving your repair issue is as simple as calling your maintenance company.
It’s almost always a good idea to have an outside inspection of the unit done before you let it out to tenants, mainly so that if they cause damage, you can get them to pay for it. For basic repairs, windows, doors, water damage, and natural disasters, you are responsible for the repairs.
Hire a Property Management Company
If you think the process of handling repairs sounds complicated or too time consuming for you then you’re not alone, many new landlords have a lot of trouble with this part of the job. You can also choose to hire a professional Bothell repair management company to help you out with everything, including handling repairs, and getting you the best prices available.
Want to know more about how property management works? Contact us today to find out how we can handle your property maintenance, repairs, and other details so that all you have to worry about is having us hand you the rent money.