Owning a rental property entails a lot of responsibility and hard work to keep the property in excellent condition. While there are issues that you can prevent through regular maintenance, there are also emergency scenarios that you need to be prepared as a landlord.
Gas Leak
As the top issue, this rental property emergency should be addressed immediately. Tell-tale signs of a gas leak include the smell of rotten eggs, hissing sounds, and tenant complaining of dizziness or nausea.
A gas leak can happen due to a faulty gas line or appliance that causes the natural gas, carbon monoxide, or propane gas to leak. Immediately contact your local utility company and a licensed plumber.
Ensuring that appliances are safe to use is vital to preventing gas leaks. Have them installed by a licensed professional and regularly check for signs of wear and tear. You may also install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at strategic locations in your rental property. And immediately turn off the gas supply as soon as a gas leak is detected.
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HVAC Issues
Another rental property emergency is faulty heating or cooling system. It can be a real emergency if it's freezing outside, and the heat is malfunctioning or incredibly hot, and the AC won't work.
Hire a professional HVAC technician to have the issue fixed as soon as possible. To prevent HVAC failure in the future, ensure that your HVAC units are installed properly and by a licensed professional; ensure that nothing blocks the condenser unit such as plants and bushes; regularly cleaning the HVAC unit.
Plumbing Issues
A plumbing issue can be a real headache, and flooding can inevitably cause damage to your property. So, an emergency call from your tenant requires immediate attention from you. If your tenant is unable to locate the source of the leak, it is best to shut the main water supply off until an expert arrives.
Clogged Toilet
If your rental property only has one bathroom, a clogged toilet can be a maintenance emergency. A quick fix would involve using a plunger - especially the one that has a flange or using a drain snake if a plunger won't work. If the problem persists, call a professional to fix it.
Remind your tenants to observe simple preventive measures to avoid toilet from clogging such as refraining from flushing objects in the toilet and putting grease down the drain.
Power Outages
Power outages, in most cases, are not considered an emergency, especially if it's due to provider maintenance, a blown fuse, or extreme weather. However, if none of these have caused the power outage, then you may need to have an electrician troubleshoot the problem immediately.
Being proactive with repairs and maintenance of your electrical systems will undoubtedly be appreciated by your tenants. If you have multiple units, a generator would be a wise investment.
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