lundi 23 décembre 2013

Maintaining An Apartment: Who's Responsibility Is It?

By Janet Dixon


When you are taking all the necessary steps it takes to rent and move into an apartment, the amount of paperwork to read and documents to sign can sometimes be overwhelming. There are a few areas that you should check thoroughly, however, so that you know what rights you have in specific matters. One such area is apartment maintenance. While the maintenance staff is often tasked with the big problems and shared areas of the complex, in your lease you may have agreed to the condition that less serious maintenance issues will be dealt with by you, the renter.

In most cases, the renter accepts the job of keeping the apartment itself and the areas around it clean and well-maintained. If your apartment has an outdoor area, such as a balcony or deck, this is included as part of the property. This responsibility generally applies primarily to cleanliness, while more serious damage or wear will usually be dealt with by the complex staff.

As the renter, you are responsible for the little repairs and projects. Clogged toilet? That usually means plunging it or hiring a plumber on your dime. For certain tasks that are too dangerous for most people to handle on their own, such as changing a bulb in a very high place, you should contact the maintenance staff for help.

A reasonable condition that you agree to when signing the lease is that you must demonstrate respect for the building and the other tenants by not doing anything purposefully damaging and following all the rules for the public spaces. This may include picking up after your dog and keeping the noise down to a certain level. Tenants who repeatedly fail to follow guidelines are often penalized.

In general, the major projects, such as exterior repair, fixing large appliances and dealing with serious plumbing issues, are the responsibility of the leasing agent and maintenance workers. Problems with utilities, such as power outages, heating issues and problems with the running water also warrant a call to the superintendent. Keeping the public spaces clean and well-manicured is the also the job of the leasing agent and staff.

You as the renter agree to care for a number of apartment maintenance tasks. One reason you should study the contract and be aware of your rights and responsibilities is to be aware of when the staff or leasing agent isn't fulfilling their end of the agreement properly. If negligence or accusations on your part make conditions dangerous or unlivable, then you may need to get the department of housing involved.




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