What is an urgent repair?
Every now and then something in a rental property may require maintenance or repair, but how do you know if it’s urgent or something which can instead be tended to in a timely manner?
Well, despite the fact it varies a little from state to state, urgent repairs tend to be pretty clear no matter where your rental property is.
A bit about urgent repairs
Urgent repairs are the type that need to be dealt with quickly, in the interests of the safety of the rental occupiers, security of the property, and the general livability of the premises.
And when we say urgent, it means the property manager and landlord should respond to the repair request immediately and have the problem fixed without delay.
So what constitutes urgent?
Urgent repair examples
As we mentioned, what’s considered an urgent repair can vary slightly depending on what state or territory the rental property is in.
However, the following are widely considered urgent repairs:
- Burst water service
- Blocked or broken toilet system
- Serious roof leak
- Gas leak
- Dangerous electrical fault
- Flooding or serious flood damage
- Serious storm or fire damage
- A failure or breakdown of the hot water service
- A failure or breakdown of the stove or oven
- Failure or breakdown of the gas, electricity or water supply
- Any fault or damage in the premises that makes the premises unsafe or insecure, or impedes access (broken lift, damaged staircase etc)
As you can see, all the above relate to the liveability, security and safety of the property, and any reasonable person would assume it would be difficult for the rental occupier to continue living in the property without the above issues being fixed.
What’s not an urgent repair?
While other issues around a rental property might cause the rental occupier inconvenience, they may not necessarily be considered urgent.
Dripping taps, for example, are not considered urgent, but they should still be brought to the attention of the property manager, so they can be fixed in a timely fashion.
After all, as a rental occupier, it’s your responsibility to report any issues with the property which need to be addressed in order to ensure it remains in good condition.
How to report an urgent repair
Although most repair requests are usually provided in writing, in the case of an urgent repair time is of the essence.
You should call your property manager as quickly as possible. Most agencies also have an after-hours number for emergencies, with a property manager assigned to handle any urgent repairs.
Then document the request in writing and forward it via email to the property manager.
Also remember, as the rental occupier, you should continue to pay rent even while repairs are being undertaken, unless the property is deemed uninhabitable and the rental agreement is terminated.
It’s also important that you do not undertake urgent repairs yourself.
How we can help
Our experienced property managers pride themselves on establishing great relationships with both tenants and landlords. We manage every property as if it were our own and you can learn more about our property management services here
