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What Qualifies as an Emergency Maintenance Request?

Rental home resident holding a bucket under a water leak.Lots of property managers understand they have to act quickly when a resident calls with an emergency maintenance request. However, which maintenance requests are emergencies that call for immediate attention, and which are less urgent? This is one of the complicated questions that property owners encounter since some matters, even those that bring annoyance or inopportuneness, are not true emergencies. On the other hand, other maintenance issues are life-threatening to be addressed immediately or risk violating Landlord/Tenant laws or habitability codes. Knowing the difference between the two can empower you to 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 think about to what degree the maintenance issue could cause injury, severe property damage, or put your resident’s health and safety in jeopardy. Any concern that would fit into this category would normally be considered an emergency. Common emergencies include:

  • 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 be mindful that certain maintenance items may be emergencies under one set of situations but not another. For example, a broken air conditioner is not an emergency during cold season. However, it is definitely in the midst of a heatwave where temperatures reach dangerous levels.

If you neglect to respond immediately to emergencies like these – counting those that happen in the middle of the night – you could violate habitability laws and, in due course, cause serious legal trouble. This is particularly relevant if your lack of concern prompts your tenant to take matters into their own hands and arrange or make the repairs themselves.

Non-Emergency Maintenance Types

In contrast, other maintenance issues that, while annoying, are not considered as emergencies unless extenuating circumstances apply. For example, a malfunctioning appliance, freezing water, or minimal leaks may be troublesome for your residents but generally fall under the category of an emergency repair. These maintenance issues must be reported as regular maintenance requests, which you can oversee during business hours.

For rental property owners, acquainting themselves with what constitutes an emergency maintenance issue and how to respond appropriately is a vital element of efficient property management. If you find it complex to respond promptly to such queries or if you have other duties that need your attention, it might be ideal to hire a quality property management company servicing the Springfield area and nearby areas. Contact us online or call 417-324-7601 for more details about what Real Property Management Momentum presents for rental property owners like you.

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