Numerous property managers recognize they should respond promptly when a resident calls with an emergency maintenance request. The question is, which maintenance requests are emergencies that require immediate attention, and which are less urgent? This is one of the difficult issues that property owners face since some problems, even those that bring discomfort or burden, are false emergencies. On the other hand, other maintenance issues are sufficiently risky to be addressed immediately or risk violating Landlord/Tenant laws or habitability codes. Determining the difference between the two can help you greatly 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 reflect to what degree the maintenance issue could cause injury, severe property damage, or put your resident’s health and safety in danger. Any concern that fits this definition is frequently considered an emergency. Common emergencies consist of:
- 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
It is critical to recognize that certain maintenance items may be emergencies under one set of circumstances but not another. Let’s say a broken air conditioner is not an emergency during cold weather. However, it unquestionably is in the midst of a heatwave where temperatures reach dangerous levels.
Failing to respond immediately to emergencies like these – involving those that occur around midnight – could violate habitability laws and, sooner or later, bring about serious legal trouble. This is particularly the scenario if your inattentiveness prompts your tenant to take matters into their own hands and coordinate or make the repairs themselves.
Non-Emergency Maintenance Types
However, other maintenance issues that, while worrying, are not generally counted as emergencies unless there are extenuating circumstances. For instance, a malfunctioning appliance, icy water, or minor leaks may be troublesome for your residents but commonly do not fall under the category of an emergency repair. These maintenance issues must be reported as regular maintenance requests, which you can handle during business hours.
For rental property owners, comprehending what constitutes an emergency maintenance issue and how to respond appropriately is important in effective property management. In the event that you can’t respond to such demands rapidly or have different needs on your time, it might be recommended to hire a quality property management company servicing the Clarkstown area and close by. Contact us online or call 866-820-9913 to find out more about what Real Property Management DePenn presents rental property owners like you.
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