The majority of renters in Tigard are on the lookout for a clean and well-maintained property. But keeping a rental house that way takes effort from both you and your landlord. While your landlord has a responsibility to guarantee that the property is in a habitable condition, there are several maintenance tasks that you are supposed to do as long as you’re a renter. Let’s take a closer look at the increasingly common maintenance issues for which a renter is responsible.
Taking Out the Trash
Keeping your rental home free of trash and garbage is a renter’s most important responsibility. Leaving trash or other items around can make the property look and smell terrible and invite pests and diseases. If your landlord doesn’t require trash disposal, sign up for service as soon as you move in.
Pest Prevention
Speaking of pests, if any do find their way into your rental home, it is generally your responsibility to get rid of them. The landlord ought to have made sure that there were no pests on the property before you moved in. But once you live there, it’s your job to immediately clean the place and treat infestations. If an infestation gets to the point of needing professional extermination, make sure to contact your Tigard property manager. If you move out and leave pests behind, you could be financially responsible for treating the property.
Yard Maintenance
Keeping your rental property clean and tidy includes the interior and exterior of the home. Most of the time, renters are responsible for maintaining the landscaping. This also means keeping the driveway, walkway, steps, and other areas free of snow, debris, and other items. Sometimes, a landlord may offer these services to you for an additional fee. Check your lease carefully – it should describe your landlord’s expectations regarding yard maintenance.
Replacing Smoke Detector Batteries and Light Bulbs
You may not notice your rental home’s smoke detectors or light bulbs until they stop working or start beeping in the middle of the night! In most cases, the renter is responsible for replacing the batteries in your smoke detectors and replacing any burned-out light bulbs as long as you live in the home. However, if a smoke detector is malfunctioning, make sure to contact your landlord. When that happens, it’s their job to replace or fix it.
Preventing Mold
Mold can grow anywhere, but prevention isn’t too difficult. As a renter, it is your job to keep mold from growing in your rental home. A few easy ways to prevent mold from developing include ensuring that your home has good ventilation and addressing excess moisture immediately. For example, leaving damp towels or clothing in a corner, letting a steamy bathroom sit closed off without a fan or window, or ignoring leaking plumbing can all lead to mold. If mold starts to grow, clean it up immediately with bleach. By taking a few simple precautions, there is a lot you can do to prevent mold in your home.
Respect the Property
As a renter, it is important to use each rental home element correctly and with respect. This includes proper use of appliances, plumbing, electrical, and septic systems, among other things. Although regular wear and tear happen, any damage to these items caused by improper use is almost always the renter’s responsibility. This could mean a lot of costly repair bills and a very angry landlord, as well. You should immediately contact your landlord if you notice any repair issues that are not your responsibility. Allowing broken pipes or malfunctioning appliances to go unaddressed could turn out poorly for you since small maintenance issues can easily turn into big repairs quickly.
Are you looking for a rental home that is in great condition – managed by a landlord committed to keeping it that way? Look no further than Real Property Management Assurance! We have an inventory of great homes in your area; view our current listings online.