(Home mortgage loans) Getting Repairs When Living In An Apartment Rental
No commentsBy Christine OKelly
When living in a real estate rental, things will break, either by accident or due to general wear and tear. Since you can’t go back and “unbreak” something, you need to seek repairs. The problem is that in an apartment rental, it is often unclear who is responsible for paying the bill: the renter, the property manager, or the property owner. This article will help you know what to do to get the repairs you need and what to do if the property manager refuses.
Where Exactly Is The Damage?
If the damage is outside of your apartment rental and was not caused by negligence or accident, report it to the property manager for repairs. In this situation, the landlord should pay for the needed repairs. If you, as a renter, caused the damage, you should pay for the repairs, but it depends on your rental agreement. Repairs needed inside of a real estate rental usually follow the same guidelines as repairs needed for the outside of a rental.
How Long Should You Wait For Repairs?
The amount of time appropriate for a property manager to make a repair is dependent upon the type of repair needed. If it is a necessity repair, such as repairs for heating, sewer, or water, it is considered an emergency and should be completed immediately. The property manager is also usually required to pay for any apartment rental cleaning needed due to the mess created by the emergency. If the repair is minor and does not affect a necessity, the landlord has a reasonable amount of time, usually 30 days, to make repairs.
What If The Property Manager Refuses To Make Repairs?
Never hold or refuse to pay your rent. Most people don’t realize it, but this is illegal. You must notify your landlord in person and by mail (certified with a return receipt) so you have proof of notice of the repair in case you have to go to court later. Keep a written 30 day deadline, detailing the daily happenings regarding the progress of the repairs.
If the repairs are not made within 30 days, you can put your rent in a rent escrow account held by the courts as you consult an attorney about the situation. You can ask the courts to release you from the obligations of your rental lease or contract you signed when moving into the apartment rental so you can move to another real estate rental, especially if the breakdown violates the terms of the contract. Many times in a rental contract, a renter has the right to set a limit of 21 days with the option to terminate the rental agreement if the repairs are not made by the 30th day. The best way to know your rights is to consult an attorney.
Most of the issues arising during the repair of a real estate rental usually occur because the parties are not aware of their obligations and rights. If you have a good attitude, are honest, and educated in approaching the situation, you and the property manager can avoid any problems when it comes to making repairs.
Christine O’Kelly writes for Chicago Beal Properties. With 80+ years experience as a property manager and real estate rental company, Beal Property, LLC offers an apartment rental in many of the city’s historic neighborhoods.
Your Source For Home Loan Consultation
Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 at 1:45 pm and is filed under realestate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
