When you aren't prepared to become a rental property owner, you may find yourself up against a steep learning curve. Landlords are legally required to meet certain standards. To turn a profit, they'll need to exceed those standards.
Owning a rental property isn't just about securing tenants and collecting rent. As the landlord, a lot of property maintenance falls under your jurisdiction.
All American Realty is here to help property owners meet the requirements of a Florida landlord. When you partner with our property managers, you can rest assured that you're in good hands.
Read on to learn three maintenance responsibilities property owners have (and that property managers will take care of).
1. Structural Maintenance
All residential properties in Florida need to meet the residential building code. Florida building code is a series of regulations designed to ensure the health and safety of a building's occupants. This will include things like functional windows, safety exits, and upgraded fire safety equipment.
Even if your property was up to code when you bought it, it could fall out of code over time. Not only do buildings sustain wear and tear but building code is updated every few years. It is your responsibility to maintain all structural elements, from stairways to the roof and foundation, to ensure that you're renting out a habitable rental property.
2. Utility Maintenance
While you can expect tenants to take care of their own utility bills, it is your job to make sure all systems are functional. This includes electrical wiring, plumbing, heating systems, cooling systems, and more.
Can you let utility lines or HVAC systems fall into disrepair under any circumstances? The short answer is no, even if a tenant is late on rent. Whether a tenant reports a burst pipe or a broken thermostat, you need to respond and provide maintenance in a timely manner.
3. Shared Space Maintenance
If you own a multi-family property like an apartment building or a row of townhouses, your tenants may have access to shared spaces. You're required to keep these spaces safe but if you want to create happy tenants, you should go above and beyond safety to create desirability.
Under no circumstances are tenants required or expected to fix a structure or piece of equipment that belongs to the building. It's up to you to check on and repair things like laundry machines, gym equipment, and pool filters.
Let Us Handle Your Property Maintenance
Becoming a landlord isn't an intuitive process. Not only are there many laws determining what you can and can't do, but tenants have high expectations of the services their landlord will provide. Property maintenance tends to fall into both categories, and a prompt response to maintenance calls is a must.
Are you having trouble staying on top of emergency and preventative maintenance for your rental properties? All American Realty is a veteran-owned company offering brokerage and property management services. We can take care of everything from property marketing to property maintenance, so schedule a consultation today and let us know how we can help.
