You think you’re getting best of both worlds by leasing an apartment. You reside in a comfortable home without having to worry about the issues that come with owning a property. Everything seems perfect until you discover the first leaky faucet or have to deal with an issue with your boiler in the late at night, and you’re unsure of the best way to handle it or whom to call in such a situation.
Suppose you are a resident of an apartment block. In that case, the chances are the landlord has the block management service which handles the essential maintenance, ranging such as boiler repair to more general issues. These companies make sure that communal spaces are well-maintained by taking care of small repairs and fixes, such as offering deck washing solutions or making sure that the locks on cabinets and doors are working.
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Even the Best Structures Require Some Maintenance
It’s likely that you’ll be able to get rid of the hassle of maintaining your apartment by upgrading to a more luxurious apartment with more amenities or by purchasing a luxurious home in a city. It could be a mistake Luxury apartment complexes in London and all over the UK offer an easy lifestyle, and maintenance staff only a call away, however you’ll still be responsible for your own maintenance.
For instance, you’re required to keep your home tidy and identify minor problems before they turn into major issues. There are other daily tasks, such as the ventilation of rooms, making sure your furniture is safe from fire and removing waste promptly.
How Can I Determine Whether a Problem Is Minor or Major?
A small issue is one that you can fix yourself taking a few minutes. Like, for example, replacing the bulb in your bedroom, clearing a toilet or resetting the battery in the fire alarm. The most serious issues could compromise the security or safety of not just your house but also of the whole building. It could be an issue with your boiler or infestation of pests.
Certain issues require expert assistance. For instance, even after trying at-home remedies however, your toilet is still unable to unblock; you may need an a professional plumber with experience. If you notice gas or smoke in your home, you may should ask the landlord call the electrician or gas engineer.
Recognizing Tenant Obligations
Part of being an owner is treating your apartment as your home. It doesn’t mean making modifications to the structure of your home instead, it’s about performing more than the minimum required to keep it. As an owner, your responsibilities may shift a bit all through the year, depending on the conditions. For instance, in the winter months, you could be required to keep your home sufficiently warm to avoid frozen pipes or damp areas.
If you’re in the summer, you’ll need ensure that all rooms are properly ventilated in order to prevent mold from forming around the edges of the flat. The lease may not explicitly specify these matters however, they usually fall under vague terms like’reasonable usage’ or ‘tenant like manner’.
When to Report, Not Fix
One of the main duties of a tenant to inform maintenance problems when they are aware of they are aware of. This allows your landlord to make timely interventions, while also preventing any danger to health or safety. If you spot a damp place in the walls, notice strange sounds in the pipe, or experience problems with the lock, the best option is to notify the landlord immediately. It could take the landlord up to 48 hours before they are able to assess or examine the issue.
Examine Your Lease in More Detail
As you begin to move into your apartment It is tempting to avoid reading all the legal jargon and go directly into signing the document and getting your keys. It’s not recommended as within the document you’ll discover the specifics of what you are responsible for. Certain agreements stipulate specific tasks like replacing blinds, or maintaining certain appliances.
Your front door may not be the end of your responsibilities.
It’s reasonable to believe that all maintenance duties are limited to your apartment. However, you may be wrong about that. A lot of apartments have other amenities such as parking spaces, balconies or shared storage spaces, and tenants often do not realize that they share responsibility for all maintenance.
As tenant, it’s your responsibility to not store boxes or any other objects in the hallway or next to the emergency escape or stairs. This could compromise safety and even hinder evacuation in the event of an emergency.
A Small Toolkit Can Make a Big Difference
It’s not necessary to have the skills of a professional but having a few essential tools and understanding what they are will surely make life simpler. It could be like using a screwdriver to replace fittings, or a plunger for dealing common obstructions. These tools can save you time and stress whenever small problems occur.
It is also possible to keep an inventory of phone numbers to know who you can call in case there is a problem. These numbers could be your landlord, your managing company of your apartment block or repair experts.
In Conclusion
The reality is that living in an apartment doesn’t mean you only make rent payments and allow the landlord take care of the other aspects. There are also tasks related to maintenance as tenants, and you have to be attentive to these regularly.
There are companies for managing blocks who can assist you with emergency situations and general maintenance problems. However, the burden remains on you to make sure that they are aware of any small issues quickly, so that they don’t turn into larger issues.
