From providing a livable property to performing repairs, these are just some of your responsibilities as a landlord. You are, after all, charging someone to use your property. Therefore, you must give them a safe, private, and peaceful dwelling.
Failure to perform your duties as a landlord can force tenants to file a complaint against you. And if they win, the law may prohibit you from collecting rent from them.
However, rental property maintenance isn't just your responsibility. Your tenants also have legal duties to keep your property in good condition.
We'll discuss those legal (and optional) tenant responsibilities, so read on.
A Tenant's Legal Property Maintenance Responsibilities
Under Florida law, tenants must follow all building, housing, and health codes. This includes cleaning the property (e.g., sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming) and keeping it sanitary. They must also remove and dispose of trash responsibly and by following local laws.
Keeping a rental property clean also helps prevent pests like roaches and rodents. A landlord must provide pest control, but it becomes a tenant's responsibility if they cause the infestation.
Pensacola tenants must also maintain and keep plumbing fixtures sanitary. They're responsible for keeping it in good repair. Because if they don't, it can lead to sewage backups that can damage property and cause many illnesses.
Tenants must also properly use your rental property's systems, facilities, and amenities. These include HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, kitchen appliances, and electronics. They (and their visitors) must not misuse, destroy, or damage your properties.
Optional Property Maintenance Tasks for Tenants
You can't ask tenants to sign a lease agreement requiring them to conduct any repair or upkeep that is otherwise your responsibility. However, you can always negotiate; if you give an incentive, they're more likely to do it.
For example, you can ask tenants to do one or more of the following in exchange for a minimal rent reduction:
- Change HVAC filters every month or two
- Keep the outdoor HVAC unit clean and free of debris
- Cut the grass
- Put salt or shovel snow
- Rake leaves
Aside from making it easier to maintain your property, the above can help improve tenant relations. Incentives are also excellent ways to prompt tenants to renew their lease.
Just remember that, as the property owner, you're still liable for keeping your property habitable and safe. So, even if your tenants agreed to do an optional task and they didn't, and this led to an accident, it'll still be on you.
If that's a risk you don't want to take, you should perform the maintenance yourself. Or, you can delegate all property maintenance needs to a full-service property manager.
Simplify Rental Property Maintenance
While your tenants have legal property maintenance duties, most responsibility still falls on you. And if you're a busy landlord, you might be unable to stay on top of all your duties.
In that case, PMI C-Shell can help. As part of a franchise with over 20 years of property management experience, you can rely on our skills and expertise. The fact that PMI manages over $5 billion in assets is a testament to our high-quality services.
So, contact us today! We'll happily answer all your property management-related questions.
