When a resident calls with an emergency maintenance request, numerous property managers are aware that they have to act right away. However, what are the less urgent maintenance requests, and which maintenance requests are emergencies that require immediate attention? This is one of the more complicated inquiries for property owners to answer because not all problems, even ones that are uncomfortable or inconvenient, constitute emergencies. However, other maintenance issues are sufficiently major to be addressed immediately or risk violating Landlord/Tenant laws or habitability codes. Understanding the gap between the two will enable you to confidently handle all your renter’s maintenance requests.
What defines an emergency repair?
One way to know when you have a true emergency on your hands or not is to contemplate what degree the maintenance issue could cause injury, severe property damage, or imperil your resident’s health and safety. Any issue that would match these parameters would normally be considered an emergency. Common emergencies are as follows:
- Gas Leak
- Frozen or Broken Water Lines
- Flooding or Water Emergencies
- Fire
- Carbon Monoxide Detection
- Sewer Back-up
- No Heat in Cold Weather
- No Air Conditioning in Extremely Hot Temperatures
- Extended Power Outage
- Intruder Break-In
Determining an Emergency from Non-Emergency
Understanding that certain maintenance items may be emergencies in some situations but not in others is crucial. In cool weather, for example, a broken air conditioner is not an emergency. However, during a heatwave, when temperatures reach dangerous levels, it most definitely is.
Disregarding to respond immediately to emergencies like these – encompassing those that transpire in the middle of the night – could violate habitability laws and, ultimately, generate serious legal trouble. This is especially relevant if your failure to act prompts your tenant to take matters into their own hands and prepare or make the repairs themselves.
Non-Emergency Maintenance Types
Despite this, such maintenance issues are not usually regarded as emergencies unless there are extenuating circumstances, even when they are annoying. For example, a malfunctioning appliance, cold water, or minimal leaks may be troublesome for your residents but mostly not included in the category of emergency repair. These maintenance issues should be reported as regular maintenance requests, which you may address during business hours.
For rental property owners, grasping what constitutes an emergency maintenance issue and how to respond appropriately is a big part of excellent property management. If you have other obligations or are unable to reply to such requests promptly, it might be time to hire a quality property management company that covers the North Richland Hills area and beyond. Contact us online or call 817-502-3588 to learn more about what Real Property Management 360 has to provide for rental property owners like you.
Originally Published on July 2, 2021
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