Many homeowners or folks in temporary housing have been in the middle of an unanticipated housing problem before. Maybe that toilet that seemed like it was on its last leg when you moved in finally kicked the bucket, and now you’re in dire need of getting a professional in to fix the situation as soon as possible. Or perhaps the punishing winter elements have resulted in you needing a replacement window or new patio door like yesterday.
The point is that apartment problems can arise out of absolutely nowhere, and you should be prepared with a foolproof game plan for when the unwanted circumstances present themselves. You’ll need to be prepared even if you find yourself living in one of those prime furnished rentals in Austin. No matter how luxurious space, every place is vulnerable to having its issues at one point or another. So, let’s take a look at how to submit a maintenance request to a landlord. You won’t regret it.
1. Call your landlord as soon as possible.
Your request should be timely. If you wake up one morning and realize that you’re in desperate need of a vinyl replacement window because a nasty windstorm ended up ruining your old one, you’ll need to contact your landlord right away and let them know whether or not people can enter your home while you’re out and about. If you cannot reach your landlord, you can also try to track down an emergency maintenance number located on your rental agreement.
2. Submit a request in writing
As with so many professional matters in this life, we’re all well advised to get our correspondences and requests through formal writing. You need to have records, especially if you’re dealing with an unresponsive landlord. Many tenants organizations offer simple notices to correct conditions that you can download and print out for your landlord. When you get to the actual form, you’ll need to fill out all the required information and write out the exact problem with your space. Next, you’ll need to include a written notice that details when you first placed the call requesting repairs in your apartment. From there, you can mail or drop off the notice to your landlord or property manager. You should definitely send the notice by certified mail so that you’re able to get a receipt that contains tracking information. Lastly, ensure that you keep written records and proof of all the maintenance requests that you’ve sent your landlord’s way.
3. Wait, but not too long
The waiting game part of the equation is its own kind of battle. After you’ve spoken to your landlord, you only have to wait a certain amount of time before the corrections should be made in your rental apartment. Of course, there can be extenuating circumstances. Maybe your landlord went ahead and ordered some of those beautiful new vinyl windows in Houston. If that’s the case, it might take a bit more time or your new replacement windows to show up, but at least you’ll be able to bank on superior windows and exceptional customer service.
Or perhaps your landlord ordered a new part for your broken toilet, and the delivery gets delayed. It’s just key to keep communications open and flow and actively monitor the 48-hour window of time that most landlords have to address maintenance issues. The only reason that should be exceeded is if it’s a unique delivery situation like the couple of scenarios we’ve addressed.
4. Think about handling the problem yourself
While your landlord is absolutely required by law to address moderate to extreme issues with your apartment and keep the space habitable, they also get off the hook on minor repairs like a dripping faucet or small tear in the carpet. So, you might end up saving yourself an unnecessarily long amount of time waiting for a problem to be fixed that you could easily address yourself. Sometimes, the best way to keep your space in a place you’re happy with is to take matters into your own hands.
We’ve touched on all the essential elements that go into properly submitting a maintenance request to your landlord and the necessary follow up that you should carry out to ensure the actual maintenance gets done. Some landlords you’ll encounter on your journey through living in different bedroom apartments will be more responsive than others. Sometimes, you’ll find yourself with that landlord that needs the extra push to get the repairs done. At least you’ll have this in your back pocket for if that time ever presents itself.
