Most property managers know that they need to act right away when a resident calls with an emergency maintenance request. But which maintenance requests are emergencies, demanding immediate attention, and which are not really urgent? This is one of the toughest inquiries that property owners encounter since some difficulties, even those that cause annoyance or discomfort, are not true emergencies. Alternatively, other maintenance issues are dangerous enough to be addressed immediately or risk violating Landlord/Tenant laws or habitability codes. If you know the difference between the two, you can easily 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 to what degree the maintenance issue could cause injury, severe property damage, or put your resident’s health and safety at risk. Usually, any problem that fits this description would be considered an emergency. Usual emergencies include:
- 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 imperative to know that certain maintenance items may be emergencies under one set of conditions but not another. For example, a broken air conditioner is not an emergency when it’s cool outside. But it is definitely during a heatwave when temperatures reach dangerous levels.
Failing to respond immediately to emergencies like these – including those that transpire in the middle of the night – could violate habitability laws and, ultimately, lead to serious legal trouble. This is especially true if your inaction prompts your tenant to take matters into their own hands and deal with or make the repairs themselves.
Non-Emergency Maintenance Types
Oppositely, there are some maintenance issues that are annoying but not emergencies unless there are extenuating circumstances. For illustration, a malfunctioning appliance, no hot water, or small leaks may be troublesome for your residents but generally do not fall under the category of an emergency repair. These maintenance issues need to be reported as regular maintenance requests, which you can undertake during business hours.
For rental property owners, identifying what constitutes an emergency maintenance issue and how to respond appropriately is a crucial aspect of effective property management. If you have other things that need your attention or can’t answer quickly to these requests, it might be perfect to hire a quality property management company servicing the Mint Hill area and nearby. To find out more about what Real Property Management Charlotte Metro can do for rental property owners like you, Contact us online or call 704-919-1344.
Originally Published on July 2, 2021
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