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What Qualifies as an Emergency Maintenance Request?

Rental home resident holding a bucket under a water leak.It is widely known among property managers that immediate action is important when a resident calls with an emergency maintenance request. However, which maintenance requests are emergencies that require immediate attention, and which ones can be tackled with less urgency? This is one of the more difficult situations that property owners encounter, as certain issues, despite causing discomfort or annoyance, are not true emergencies. Alternatively, other maintenance issues are hazardous enough to be addressed immediately or risk violating Landlord/Tenant laws or habitability codes. Being aware of the difference between the two can help you effectively 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 put your resident’s health and safety in harm. Any issue that would meet this definition 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 recognize that certain maintenance items may be emergencies in one situation while remaining non-urgent in another. For illustration, a broken air conditioner is not an emergency in cold climate. However, it undeniably is amidst a heatwave where temperatures reach dangerous levels.

Neglecting to respond immediately to emergencies like these – even those that happen during the nocturnal hours – could violate habitability laws and, ultimately, lead to serious legal trouble. This is definitely true if your late reaction prompts your tenant to take matters into their own hands and organize or make the repairs themselves.

Non-Emergency Maintenance Types

In contrast, other maintenance issues that, though problematic, are not commonly considered emergencies unless there are extenuating circumstances. For example, a malfunctioning appliance, frosty water, or minor leaks may be troublesome for your residents, but they mostly do not fall under the category of emergency repair. These maintenance issues ought to be reported as regular maintenance requests, which can be carried out during business hours.

For rental property owners, discerning what constitutes an emergency maintenance issue and how to respond appropriately is a huge factor in effective property management. Should you find yourself unable to manage such requests instantly or if other obligations are invading your time, it may be wise to hire a quality property management company that serves the Terrell area and surrounding areas. If you have questions, please Contact us online or call 469-745-8199 to learn the array of services that Real Property Management NorthStar delivers for rental property owners such as yourself.

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