Any landlord would appreciate their tenant reporting property issues right away. Still, some issues require a higher priority than others, and landlords may not have the option to wait long to address them. Events like a leaking pipe, electrical sparks, exposed wires, and a broken A/C disrupt your tenant’s life and pose a larger risk for substantial property damage and a negative impact to your cash flow.
What is Considered an Emergency in Property Management?
Do you know what is considered an emergency maintenance event on a property? Knowing how to identify and manage property maintenance issues is critical to keeping tenants satisfied and preserving the value of your property. Here are a few property maintenance events that constitute an emergency:
- Broken locks or security issues
- Electrical issues
- Gas leaks
- HVAC failures
- Major roof leaks or structural damage
- Plumbing failures and frozen pipes
- Water leaks and flooding
After a tenant reports an issue with the rental property, the landlord must assess the situation immediately. They need to determine whether it is an emergency and act accordingly to coordinate repairs. Failure to handle these emergency maintenance issues can lead to costly repairs, mold growth, and, most importantly, a compromise to your tenant’s safety and health. It is important to remember that both parties signed a lease agreement with maintenance responsibilities for each party. A landlord’s failure to abide by their lease agreement maintenance terms may open them to additional legal liabilities.
Can You Legally Ask Your Tenant to Hold Off on an Emergency Maintenance Issue?
It is legal in Louisiana to ask your tenant to temporarily hold off on an emergency maintenance repair if it does not threaten their health or personal safety. However, issues like gas leaks or exposed sparking wires are not situations a landlord can temporarily ignore. The same goes for a malfunctioning HVAC system in the middle of winter. These maintenance emergencies must be addressed immediately to remediate the issue.
Although there are some emergency repairs landlords can ask their tenants to wait on, Louisiana law still requires landlords to make these repairs as quickly as possible. If the landlord does not respond promptly, tenants can legally make the repairs themselves and deduct the cost from their monthly rental payment.
Can You Ask Your Tenant to Do Preventative Maintenance to Prevent Emergencies?
The short answer is yes. Landlords may use their lease agreement to lay out reasonable maintenance responsibilities that the tenant can handle. For example, some landlords require their tenants to change HVAC air filters, cut the grass, or replace the batteries of smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors as needed.
It is important to note that while these responsibilities can be included in the lease agreement, it does not guarantee tenants will abide by them. Landlords should still routinely check their property and perform regular maintenance to prevent rental property emergencies.
Do You Have an Emergency Plan for Your Rental?
Managing a rental may come with challenges—especially when dealing with a maintenance emergency in a tenant-occupied unit. Not all property owners may want to handle these issues on their own. Fortunately, when you place your rental with a trusted property management company, you know your property maintenance emergencies will be handled smoothly.
Are you a landlord who needs help managing their rental property? Kajen Rentals is here to help. We have helped many landlords across Monroe, West Monroe, Bastrop, or Oak Grove successfully manage their units and navigate events of emergency maintenance repairs. Contact us today to learn more.