What to Do For Routine Vs. Emergency Maintenance Requests
Written by: Weida Apartments
Things break. That’s true in a rented apartment as much as anywhere else. Building owners and tenants both hope that the renter won’t have to call to get something fixed, but, sooner or later, the tenant will need to report a problem and the apartment owner will have to resolve it.
Some apartment maintenance issues require immediate attention; others can wait a day or two or even longer without creating more than an inconvenience. When you move into your West Lafayette apartment, both parties need to understand what is considered emergency maintenance in an apartment. They must be on the same page about handling urgent and non-urgent issues.
How to Know if an Issue is Urgent or Non-Urgent
An urgent issue is one that puts the tenant, their property, other people, or the apartment itself at risk for immediate harm. These are cases where something needs to be done right away. Non-urgent issues do not need immediate attention. If they arise at night, they can wait until the next day. That doesn't mean that they’re unimportant or can be ignored. Sometimes it’s reasonable to expect them to be cared for within a day or two.
Some examples of urgent maintenance issues:
- A fire or flood.
- Something that keeps the tenant from escaping in an emergency, such as a blocked fire escape route.
- A gas leak.
- A plumbing problem that threatens to flood the unit.
- Door locks that don’t work, or broken or unlockable windows. These compromise the ability of the tenant to be safe in the apartment.
Other issues are not urgent, even though it’s important to take care of them. For example:
- A tub or sink draining slowly.
- A dripping faucet.
- An appliance that has stopped working but can be shut off or disconnected.
- Blinds that won’t open and close.
- A failed burner on a stove.
These might be inconvenient for the tenant, and the owner is obligated to address them promptly, but they don’t need to be fixed right now.
Some issues are urgent or non-urgent based on other factors. For example, a clogged toilet is not urgent if there is another toilet in the unit. If it’s the only one, however, it needs immediate attention.
Routine Maintenance Requests
Routine maintenance requests should not involve calling someone during off hours. However, there needs to be a process, by phone or online, for making and fulfilling requests. Requests should be documented, tracked, and given a timeline. The status of the requests should be visible to the tenant.
Emergency Maintenance Requests
There should be a phone number where emergency requests can be reported. An owner who doesn’t have the capacity to answer the phone 24/7 might consider using a third-party service.
Some issues, such as a fire, will require the tenant to call 911 instead of the owner’s emergency number.
If the owner does not have a 24/7 number, the tenant may have to take charge of the issue by, for example, calling a 24-hour plumber for emergency service. This is less than an ideal situation.
The Importance of Scheduling Maintenance Requests
The tenant has a right to know when a maintenance request will be fulfilled and what progress is being made on it. If requests are scheduled, both parties know what to expect. Requests that are not scheduled are at risk of slipping through the cracks or getting put off indefinitely.
For Tenants
Sometimes, tenants have expectations that are not realistic. If a faucet starts dripping in the middle of the night, they can’t expect to have someone come out and fix it right away. If a stove stops working, the owner must be allowed a reasonable time to repair it or provide another one.
Maintenance request procedures should be spelled out when the lease is signed. The renter must take care to understand them.
For Property Owners
They need to be clear with their lessees about what maintenance they will provide and how the tenant should go about requesting it. They must ensure that the tenants understand what will be done on an emergency and non-emergency basis. They need to have a process for providing emergency maintenance at all hours.
Whatever Happens, Call Maintenance
All maintenance issues, large or small, should be reported. These can include issues that don’t bother the tenant and which the tenant might be disinclined to report. An example might be a tiny leak around a sink faucet or a slow buildup of moisture on a bathroom ceiling. These are issues that can be tolerated for some time but may eventually damage the owner’s property. The owner has a right to know about these.
We Prioritize Our Tenants
One of the advantages of renting from an established owner like Weida Apartments is that we have procedures in place for maintenance requests. We also have the staffing to respond to issues whenever they need to be dealt with.
If there is an issue with your rental unit, we want to know about it. That’s why we provide a
portal for non-emergency requests and a phone number for those that need immediate attention.
Reserve an Apartment Today!
When you’re looking for off-campus housing, Weida Apartments belongs at the top of your list. We have a wide selection of
available units, from studios to four-bedroom apartments, within walking and driving distance of Purdue. You won’t need to worry about maintenance issues; our qualified team is on hand to deal with any repairs.
Contact us today and secure your affordable home in West Lafayette.
