There are certain simple maintenance items that you are responsible for taking care of on a regular basis. Most of these items are listed in your lease and related documents and are important for your safety and comfort as a resident and to prevent damage to the property.
Normal wear and tear as defined in paragraph 16 of your lease is “deterioration that occurs without negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse”. Not performing simple, routine maintenance can lead to damages that would not be considered normal wear and tear and, therefore, you could be charged for any related repairs.
Some of the typical routine maintenance items that you are responsible for include:
- change out AC filters at least every 3-4 weeks and maintain a clean filter and pour high acidic vinegar down the drainline at least once a quarter
- test smoke detector batteries and replace them at least twice a year- we recommend doing this when daylight savings time changes each year.
- vacuum or brush the coils of any landlord furnished refrigerator to clear out dust or debris. If you have pets, we recommend doing this monthly, otherwise quarterly should be sufficient. This is important even if you are using your own refrigerator as it extends the life of the appliance.
- keep dryer hose line and exterior vents free of lint and debris. This is not the same as cleaning the lint trap with each load of clothes. If these lines become clogged, it is your responibility to hire someone to clean them out.
- regularly clean behind the refrigerator, stand-alone ranges/stoves and keep the inside of the oven cleaned.
- check the lawn regularly for fire ants and make sure they are treated immediately. It is especially important to keep ants away from outside AC units! They can get inside the unit and destroy the wiring, capacitors, etc. Also make sure there is no vegetation allowed to grow into the unit outside, i.e. weeds, vines, plants, etc.
- check around the exterior doors, eaves and roof lines of the house regularly to make sure there are no wasp or other flying insect nests or vines growing into the roof line. If these pests get inside the roof vents, they can invade the attic and the interior of the house and cause injury and damage to the property. When doing these spot checks, look for holes in the soffit vents or siding where critters might be getting into the attic of the property. If you see holes, report those immediately to [email protected]
- make sure birds or other creatures have not built nests in any exterior light fixtures and, if so, remove them promptly.
- regularly maintain pest control inside and outside of the house: inside the house keep roach and ant bait traps out regularly and change them frequently, call an exterminator immediately if you see pest activity inside the house. Outside the house, keep the lawn free of fleas and ticks, fire ants, or other pests. This is a requirement of your lease.
- regularly mow, weed, water and properly FERTILIZE the lawn. This is also a requirement of your lease. Even in water restrictions, hand watering is allowed and we require it. Even if the lawn had bald spots when you moved in, water and fertilize it to keep it healthy. Do not allow the grass to die or you will be charged to re-sod.
- keep the lawn free of trash, especially if you live on a corner lot.
- immediately remove pet waste in the yard. This includes discarded pet toys as well as feces.
- promptly replace any items that you have broken or damaged, i.e. blinds, light globes, etc.
- regularly replace burnt out light bulbs with the same kind present when you moved in. NOTE: most properties were built before CFL bulbs became popular so replacing bulbs with the proper type for the fixture is important for making sure the fixtures work correctly and are not damaged.
In addition to routine maintenance, regularl cleaning is expected and your lease requires you to maintain the property in a clean and sanitary condition. We suggest that you clean the bathtubs and shower doors and floors reqularly to prevent mildew and/or soap scum and dirt build-up. Most likely the property you live in has a fiberglass shower floor and/or tub. This type of material holds dirt and build up and can lead to permanent staining. Maintaining them clean is a good idea to prevent staining.
Most of these items are written in the lease but may be missed. For example, paragraph 9 states that, if you have pets on the property, you will be charged for extermination of fleas if fleas are found on the property. Paragraph 10 lists items that will be deducted from your security deposit if necessary. Paragraph 17 discusses property maintenance and what is required and disallowed. Paragraph 18 outlines repairs and the payment thereof. The Landlord Rules also address regular maintenance items for which you are responsible. Reading your lease and related documents carefully and asking for clarification of any thing that is not clear is the best thing to do.
Finally, remember not to store any personal items next to the hot water heater. This is a serious safety issue so keep all items away from the hot water heater. Also, make sure the garage is kept in an orderly manner so as not to block any portion of access to breaker boxes, appliances, attic, or doors.
The garage is for your use and certainly storage but it must be kept in an orderly manner for safety reasons.