If you’re a property owner in a bustling neighborhood, it’s a good time to buy a property and perhaps convert it to a rental investment.
There are several benefits both financially and personally to owning a rental property. Of course, renting has advantages too. For some people renting might make more sense now because of their financial or personal circumstances. Renting gives you the flexibility to explore different types of neighborhoods especially if you’re unsure where you’d like to be long-term. Another benefit of renting is the option to defer the maintenance costs or repair bills to the property owner or Management Company.
If you’re navigating towards the rental side, you’ll surely enjoy the renter perks of a low-maintenance household, but you also need to remember that there are some basic maintenance responsibilities as stated in your lease terms. As a tenant in a Houston property, you have legal renter’s maintenance responsibilities under the landlord-tenant law.
Here are some basic renter’s maintenance checklist:
1. Maintain common areas of the rental property
Tenants are typically required to follow property rules in regards to cleaning up after themselves in common areas and not misusing any appliance or equipment. Keeping the rented property sanitary means proper trash disposal to prevent pest infestation. This also includes sweeping or vacuuming and keeping the property clean to prevent mold growth, dirt buildup on windows or walls, and soap scum buildup.
2. Perform Minor Repairs
Depending on your lease agreement, the landlord or property owner should keep all systems in working order, which includes fixing to avoid further damage. However, a tenant should be responsible for any minor repairs like keeping the pipes clean, replacing batteries, especially if the problem was due to tenant negligence.
3. Report Problems Immediately
Tenants must report issues to prevent excessive damage. While normal wear and tear is expected, some damage can leave a property in worse condition. That’s why it’s a common tenant maintenance responsibility to let the landlord or property owner know about any needed repairs as soon as possible. Tenants usually have a copy of the renters’ maintenance checklist to avoid any damage charges at the end of the lease. Failing to report could mean being liable for any additional damage that wouldn’t have occurred if the tenant has reported immediately.
4. Air Conditioner filters
It is not common to replace air conditioner filters every other month, or frequently if it is used daily. Ensure you are changing your air filters to prevent damage or disrepair to the HVAC system. This also decreases your electric bill. Savings for you, less damage for us!
5. Keeping the lawn thriving
One of the benefits of living in a house is to have a lawn and to enjoy the outdoors as opposed to living in an apartment complex. However, you don’t want your lawn to be an eyesore to your home and be the conversation piece of the neighborhood. Basic water and maintain the lawn as necessary, not letting the grass die from lack of care will both
be easy on your rental deposit, and your eyes.
Tenants’ basic maintenance responsibilities as well as the rental property maintenance tasks of landlords are stated in the tenancy or lease agreement. Part of the agreement is the obligation to maintain the premises and treat the property with care to a reasonable level of cleanliness. Besides your own renters’ maintenance checklist, ensure effective communication with the property owner or manager so you’re aware of which maintenance and repair you can and can’t handle. Regardless of how your lease is worded, every tenant has the rights and basic maintenance responsibilities necessary to make the property safe and livable.
The local Houston market
Houston is a flourishing, ethnically diverse city with a thriving job market, and booming economy. The city and major suburbs are home to at least 1.3 million new residents from 2010 to 2019 and are projected to gain another 1.2 million residents over the next decade. Looking at the current statistics, the annual real estate appreciation rate in Houston is 5.45%. This means a rise in property prices and home values over the next 12-months. If you need a local Houston realtor that understands the market, Apex Pro real estate group comes highly recommended.
Working with Apogee Properties
Apogee Properties is Houston’s leading real estate management company. We work and live in Houston and our property managers are local. We’ve been in business for more than a decade providing comprehensive property management services in the Houston region ranging from a studio condo to a multi-family million dollar estate.
Apogee looks forward to hearing from you and sharing what we can offer to your Houston property. Contact us today to learn more!
