WHO’S RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS IN AN EL PASO RENTAL PROPERTY?

May 31, 2019
Your rental property will eventually need maintenance, even if it’s brand new and even if it’s in excellent condition. Many tenants will be confused about what they’re responsible for maintaining and what you’re responsible for, as the property owner and landlord. Make sure all of the expectations and responsibilities are clearly spelled out in the lease agreement. And, make sure you’re prepared to cover things like emergency and routine maintenance as well as general wear and tear.

Emergency and Routine Maintenance
Emergency maintenance and repairs are necessary immediately after damage is caused. Perhaps a major storm knocked over a tree, which shattered a window. That window would need to be repaired and cleaned up right away. A leaking water heater or a lack of air conditioning in the summer are also emergencies. These call for immediate action because ignoring the problem could threaten the safety of the property and your tenant.

Regular maintenance might be a running toilet or a garbage disposal that won’t work. While you still need to respond with a sense of urgency in order to keep the tenant happy and to protect your property, no immediate habitability standards are in peril.

Understanding Wear and Tear
Owners are responsible for general wear and tear. Your property will become worn over time, no matter who is living in it. That’s a natural occurrence that your tenant can’t do much to avoid. For example, outside paint is eventually going to wear from sun and rain. You’ll notice most of the wear on your property during turnovers.

Who Pays for Maintenance?
Owners are responsible for paying to keep the home in a safe, habitable, and functioning condition. You’ll need to repair plumbing and you’ll need to replace appliances. It is the responsibility of the tenant to pay for the repairs that result in damage. When tenants or their guests break something or neglect something and it needs maintenance, you can charge them for that work.

Good communication with your tenants will ensure the property is well-cared for and maintained. You don’t want your tenants to be worried about reporting maintenance. Make sure they know you want to hear about it as soon as work is needed.

Coordinating Costs of Repairs

When a tenant is responsible for damage caused to the property, you’ll be able to charge the security deposit at the end of the lease. Otherwise, you’ll need to have your own maintenance budget in place to handle the repairs that come up. Keep in mind that working with a professional El Paso property management company can keep your maintenance costs down and ensure your property is maintained and its condition protected. We work with licensed and bonded contractors who give us preferred pricing due to the volume of work we provide them.


If you have any questions about maintenance and what you should include in your lease so your tenants are aware of what they’re responsible for, contact us at Century 21 Haggerty Property Management. We’d be happy to help.

Share this post

landlord can turn house into rental home or investment property

How to Turn Your Property into a Long-Term Rental

By Suzie Wilson • 19 Feb, 2021
Moving out of your property? Your first thought might be to sell it. However, if you have the means and time to turn it into a rental property, why not take advantage of the investment opportunity. With a rental management company like Century 21 Haggerty on your side, you can make the most of this opportunity.
customer service between tenant and landlord

Benefits of Great Customer Service in Property Management

By Rob Carrillo • 01 Dec, 2020
Property Managers often have to work a balance towards pleasing clients that don't always share a common goal. Where you have a real estate investor who is trying to accomplish maximum returns while maintaining little expense, you in turn have a tenant who wants great value with affordable rent. Excellent customer service can be an effective way to accomplish getting your tenants the value that they want all while producing those ROI(return on investment) numbers that your rental property owners are looking for. Cutting Corners Unfortunately too many landlords often look towards cutting corners that only end up hurting them in the long run. Often we find landlords that forego hiring a professional property management company and try to go it alone so that they can avoid paying property management fees . Not only do they soon find themselves stuck within an industry that involves state and federal laws that they are not entirely aware of, but they also will realize that their rental property and their tenants require frequent upkeep and communication. Ignoring a tenant leads to bad blood and quickly sours a relationship. And ignoring an investment property 's needs often leads to increased costs down the road that could have been avoidable. Bring in Professionals Mismanagement and bad customer service leads to a cycle of short tenancies, more vacancies and a loss in revenue. The more investment savvy rental property owner will look towards a professional property management company, like Century 21 Haggerty Property Management, to help improve customer service and tenant relations with advanced tools that allows for constant communication, easy rent payment options, quick work order turnovers and other tenant benefits. They also provide the owners with added benefits such as deferred maintenance inspections which not only checks-in on the tenants, but will also help to catch any hidden maintenance issues that have the potential to grow into a much more expensive issue if not tended to. 
Fair Housing Guidelines for Rental Property Owners in El Paso, TX - Article Banner

Fair Housing Guidelines for Rental Property Owners in El Paso, TX

16 Oct, 2020
El Paso rental property owners face many federal fair housing laws and state property codes that must be complied with throughout the El Paso leasing and management process. It’s important that you’re thinking about these laws during the application process, during the tenancy, and during the move-out process.
Show More
Share by: