3 Reasons Why Tenants Should Not Handle Repairs

by | Sep 11, 2017 | Rental Property Management Tips

The tenancy agreement outlines the rights and responsibilities regarding the care of the rental property, including whether it’s the landlord or tenant who makes repairs. It may seem prudent to ask the tenant to take on repairs, especially in cases where a primary home is turned into a rental or when the landlord is living far away from the property. Unfortunately, there are some serious risks in allowing tenants to handle repairs:

Passing Along the Costs

The landlord ultimately is responsible for renting only habitable premises. In many cases, the needed repair affects the habitability of the unit. That means the tenant can pass the cost of the repair on to the landlord. The tenant has no reason to keep that cost low or to question a contractor who may be charging too much. By handling the repair, the landlord may be able to minimize unnecessary income loss.

Choosing the Wrong Contractor

Choosing the right contractor for repairs requires research. First, the tenant must figure out which trade handles the repair, and then which of many competing services to hire. The tenant’s priority is speed, not cost or skill level. As experienced property owners have discovered, the person who is available soonest is not always the best person for the job. A repair done badly can cost more to correct than the original job.

Increasing Landlord Liability

A worst case scenario for landlords: tenants who attempt to perform their own repairs. Misuse of pesticides is one example of the possible dangers to tenants and the property. Botched repairs are dangerous, and can increase landlord liability should that tenant or anyone else become sick or injured.

Some repairs must be performed by licensed contractors. If that does not occur, not only has the landlord violated the law, but the tenants and property are at risk of injury.

In the case of poor workmanship, if a contractor damages the property or fails to properly make the repair, the landlord still may be liable for any resulting injury. Yet the landlord may not have a contractual relationship with the person or company who performed the repair. That may make it difficult to pursue the contractor or the contractor’s insurance in order to recover any losses.

Any warranties on repairs may not pass to the landlord. The landlord may not be aware of who performed the repair or damaged the property.

Landlords may suffer from any dispute between the tenant and the contractor over the charges. There is no way of knowing if the tenant actually paid the contractor.

To avoid these potential losses, landlords can:

Take on repairs. Ask the tenant to report issues, and frequently inspect the property for latent problems that require attention. Then, hire the appropriate contractors and keep the property in good condition.

Prepare by interviewing contractors in advance. Develop a list of skilled workers who are available to complete repairs when needed.

Develop a maintenance plan and perform routine maintenance. This must be done regardless of how long a particular tenant stays at the property. Property damage is likely to occur with long-term tenants because maintenance is delayed until after that tenant moves. Many repairs can be avoided altogether by keeping appliances and other systems in good functioning order.

This post is provided by Tenant Verification Service, Inc., helping landlords reduce the risks of renting with fraud prevention tools that include Tenant Screening, Tenant Background Checks, (U.S. and Canada), as well as Criminal Background Checks, and Eviction Reports (U.S. only).

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be construed as legal advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual legal counsel or consulting your local, state, federal or provincial tenancy laws.

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