6 Rental Problems that Cause Panic
Below are our top 6 emergencies that will disrupt your tenant’s life and cause panic fast. Any delay in addressing these repairs could sour the landlord-tenant relationship, causing distrust and more problems in the future.
If neglected, they can quickly escalate to tenant complaints to the health department, police involvement, legal action, formally withheld rent, or lease termination.
1. The Refrigerator
Losing a refrigerator always causes panic. Your tenant is at risk of losing hundreds of dollars in perishable food and faces an unexpected inconvenience. Anyone who has experienced a power outage can relate to the panic – especially as food costs rise.
The reasonable replacement for a refrigerator is within 2 weeks. This allows the landlord time to assess the situation and complete repairs, or purchase a new refrigerator.
Find out how you can be ready for a refrigerator problem – and what to do when it fails – here.
2. The Hot Water Tank
The loss of a hot water tank is always discovered at the worst moment – when there’s no hot water for a shower (cue: panic).
The reasonable repair time is 24-72 hours. A standard 40-gallon hot water tank can be replaced quickly ($1200-1800). Most plumbers will probably schedule it for the next business day.
More on the hot water tank here (but it’s pretty straight forward).
3. The Furnace
The furnace failure makes this list during our freezing Pennsylvania winters. When it’s 23 degrees outside and your tenant wakes up to a 50 degree house, the panic will rise.
The reasonable repair time is 24-48 hours. If the furnace needs to be fully replaced, it may take a few more days. Repairs might range from $250-1500, and a standard gas furnace replacement may be $4000-6000.
If the repair will take more than a day, help your tenant find electric space heaters to keep them warm and keep vital pipes from freezing.
Read more about minimizing the risk of a mid-winter furnace failure here.
4. Mold
Discovering mold is an unsettling experience. Not only is it a health hazard that can put your tenant at risk, the presence of mold also means there is a source of uncontrolled moisture in your rental property.
Mold could be a symptom of a much greater problem. Or it could mean you just need to get your property a dehumidifier after you get the space sanitized.
The reasonable response time for addressing mold is pretty short. As soon as it is reported, request a photo of the damage from your tenant and call a contractor to inspect.
Solutions to avoid mold in your rental property before it starts can be found here.
5. The Sewage System
The sewage system failure will escalate slowly or your tenant will come home to wastewater backing up in every drain (enter: panic).
This failure will demand emergency repair if the house has lost toilets or wastewater is backing up in the drains. These pose a health risk, and you must contact a plumber immediately.
A developing problem with slow draining, ceiling stains, or intermittent bad odors may be able to wait until the next business day (but don’t delay or it will turn into an emergency on a holiday weekend).
Read more about your basic sewage system – and how to be ready for a failure – here.
6. The Tenant-to-Tenant Dispute
The tenant-to-tenant dispute is extremely difficult to manage. While backed up sewage is bad, a tense relationship with another tenant in the same apartment building will spark severe stress.
When not handled as your tenant expects it to be handled, this can quickly escalate to a tenant-to-landlord dispute, and even the unexpected loss of a lease.
There is no “reasonable timeframe for repair” on this one, but if you have upset tenants, you will want it resolved as quickly as possible.
Learn ways to navigate the landlord side of a tenant-to-tenant dispute here.
Victims of Domestic Violence can CALL or TEXT 911
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Some maintenance issues cause panic. The most important thing a landlord can do is be proactive with maintenance and have a plan for when fit hits the shan.
Take a moment to review the Implied Warranty of Habitability. This regulation discusses safe living conditions and protects tenants from neglectful landlords in Pennsylvania.
More resources...
5 Worst Rental Maintenance Failures
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Sewage is backing up in the bathtub of your rental property. If you're working with a plumber, here's what you can expect.