Most property managers understand the necessity to respond immediately when a resident calls with an emergency maintenance request. But which maintenance requests are emergencies, demanding immediate attention, and which are less urgent? This represents a particularly tough dilemma for property owners, as certain concerns, albeit causing discomfort or inconvenience, do not constitute genuine emergencies. Conversely, other maintenance issues are sufficiently critical to be addressed immediately or risk violating Landlord/Tenant laws or habitability codes. Understanding the distinction between the two can enable you to adeptly 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 consider to what degree the maintenance issue could cause injury, severe property damage, or jeopardize your resident’s health and safety. Any matter that fulfills this criterion would generally be considered an emergency. Common emergencies encompass:
- 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 crucial to understand that certain maintenance items may be emergencies in one context but not in another. For instance, a broken air conditioner is not an emergency during cool weather. However, it is indeed occurring during a heatwave where temperatures reach dangerous levels.
Neglecting to respond immediately to emergencies, even those occurring at night, may violate habitability laws and can result in serious legal trouble. This is particularly applicable if your inaction prompts your tenant to take matters into their own hands and manage or make the repairs themselves.
Non-Emergency Maintenance Types
Conversely, other maintenance issues, although inconvenient, are not typically deemed emergencies unless there are extenuating circumstances. For instance, a malfunctioning appliance, no hot water, or minimal leaks may be troublesome for your residents but usually do not qualify under the category of an emergency repair. These maintenance issues should be reported as regular maintenance requests, which can be addressed during business hours.
For rental property owners, understanding what constitutes an emergency maintenance issue and how to respond appropriately is essential for effective property management. If you are unable to promptly address such inquiries or have competing time commitments, it might be prudent to hire a quality property management company servicing the Framingham area and its vicinity. Contact us online or call 508-329-6000 to get more information about what Real Property Management MetroWest-Worcester provides rental property owners such as yourself.
Originally Published on July 2, 2021
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