As March goes out like a lamb, it’s time for landlords and tenants to inspect the rental property for any issues that may have developed during the winter months. Spring maintenance issues that affect the rental unit’s habitability should be prioritized, but this is also the time to address minor matters that could turn into bigger problems if left unaddressed.
Warming temperatures create an ideal opportunity for landlords and property managers to inspect rental properties and plan for spring maintenance. If your unit is tenanted, you may be able to rely on them for small fixes, such as yard work and gardening. But leaks, burst pipes, and other issues that affect habitability should have professional attention.
How to Handle Spring Maintenance
Serious maintenance issues like leaks and burst pipes fall to the landlord, not the tenant. It’s the landlord’s responsibility to complete the repairs or hire someone to do them.
However, the responsibility isn’t as simple when it comes to issues that only affect the tenant’s enjoyment of the property. For instance, peeling paint and displaced walkway pavers may be unsightly, but they don’t affect the unit’s habitability. In cases such as this, it may make sense to give tenants the option to make some of these repairs themselves. To avoid confusion over who is responsible for what and who pays for the repairs, include a lease clause or amendment that covers the topic.
Lawn and garden maintenance should also be covered in the lease. Many tenants enjoy landscaping and may even consider it a perk to be allowed to do it themselves. However, other tenants prefer this task to be handled by a professional. The landlord and tenant should come to an agreement on the matter before the lease is signed. As always, if you commit to handle maintenance as a landlord, make sure the tenant has an easy way to submit repair requests. With Apartments.com, you'll get notified when your renter submits a request, and you can update them as the repair progresses.
Other topics that should be covered in the lease include general indoor cleaning. For example, if your unit has hardwood floors, they will need to be properly and routinely cleaned to avoid salt and water damage during the winter months. Whether you’re referring to spring maintenance or year-round maintenance, it helps to clarify responsibilities in writing in the lease agreement.
Start with an Exterior Inspection
To begin your spring maintenance, walk around the exterior of the property to look for any winter-related damage. During your inspection, you should:
- Check the roof and siding for deterioration. Any missing or broken shingles are usually visible from the ground, so you shouldn’t have to get on a ladder to inspect for roof damage.
- Look for gutter leaks. Winter weather can take a toll on gutters. Any leak you find should be repaired immediately to prevent further damage to the siding or possible erosion around the foundation.
- Test outdoor faucets. If water froze in the pipes of your outdoor faucets, they may leak, so you’ll need to get them repaired as soon as possible.
- Inspect driveway and walkways for cracks. Possible earth movements from freezing weather could cause cracking in driveways and walkways. To avoid water seeping through the cracks and causing further erosion, repair them swiftly.
- Take note of any rot. Wood siding, trim, fences, and decking are all places where you should look for rot. Although a small amount isn’t an urgent issue, extensive rot should be dealt with during spring maintenance to avoid a worsening problem.
- Inspect the lawn, garden, and surrounding foliage. If there are any branches that have the potential to block windows or overhang the roof later in the summer, spring is a great time to prune them back. Although lawn maintenance could be your tenants’ responsibility (depending on the lease), you should still check the lawn for any weeds that need to be treated in order for the lawn to thrive in the summer.
Move on to the Interior Inspection
After you’ve completed your exterior inspection, it’s time to inspect the inside of your rental property. If winter weather has caused any interior damage, tenants will likely know about it and hopefully inform you of any issues. However, it’s still a good idea as the landlord or property manager to do a quick walk-through. During this inspection, you should:
- Assess the damage caused by roof or siding leaks. This damage could range from soggy drywall and mold to warped flooring, brown spots on the ceiling, or compromised electrical fixtures. Because this affects the unit’s habitability, handle this repair promptly.
- Note the condition of the flooring. Winter weather can mean snow and salted roads, depending where your property is located, so check the carpet, tile, hardwoods, etc. for any damage that may have been tracked inside.
- Turn on the air conditioner. First and foremost, make sure the air conditioning is working. If it’s not, be sure to call a professional to get the issue resolved before the weather warms. It’s also a good time to replace your HVAC filters.
- Check for signs of pests. While in the unit, check for termites, cockroaches, ants, and rodents. Critters tend to take cover in the walls during winter, so they will likely still be there when spring comes. Now is the time to rid of them, so hire a professional pest control service to treat the unit if you see any signs of pests.
Once You’ve Made Your Plan for Spring Maintenance…
It’s time to itemize the repairs you need to make. If a repair is deemed as urgent, take care of it as soon as possible. Other maintenance issues that aren’t as immediate can be repaired at a later date, but keep your itemized list as a reminder to check back on the issue. Priorities tend to change as the weather warms and summer arrives, but winter will come again, and issues you don’t repair this year will still be there next year. To avoid those issues worsening, keep up with your routine inspections and repairs; and remember, always give tenants proper notice before entering the property for inspections or to make repairs.
