Apartment Maintenance: What Is It And What Does It Include?
Property owners have a duty to make sure that residential buildings are safe and livable. Maintenance technicians take care of apartments by doing both reactive and preventive maintenance. But what does apartment maintenance include?
The standards of apartment living continue to improve to meet the residents’ demands for safety and comfort. The National Apartment Association 2021 survey reported an increase in property insurance coverage. This guide explains what apartment maintenance is, what it entails, and the various apartment maintenance responsibilities for property owners and tenants.
What Is Apartment Maintenance?
Apartment living has become increasingly popular as people opt for its convenience, affordability, and urban lifestyle. Therefore maintaining a comfortable and well-functioning living space is essential in any apartment management strategy.
Apartment maintenance refers to services that apartment maintenance technicians provide to make your apartment look good. The maintenance tasks include cleaning, repairing, and enhancing the interior and exterior of the building. These services ensure the building systems work and meet safety standards.
Who Does Apartment Maintenance?
Maintenance technicians with apartment maintenance certifications can help look after your apartment. These technicians use their troubleshooting skills to perform routine maintenance and handle complex tasks in multifamily residences.
They also ensure that everything is working properly on all floors so that residents don't have any problems with things like plumbing or electrical repair.
Some properties also feature housekeeping and groundskeeping staff members who clean up after residents. They help to keep the apartments nice and tidy throughout the day, every day. These individuals might also plant flowers in front yards during springtime when the weather permits it.
Who Pays For Apartment Maintenance?
There is no doubt about it. The primary duty of care for apartment maintenance falls on landlords and property owners. The owners are legally required to provide a habitable living space for their residents.
Therefore most apartment owners have an operational budget and calendar for ensuring the property is structurally sound, has working systems, and everything meets local housing codes.
They foot the bill for the repairs and upgrades. They find and hire maintenance staff and supervise their activities directly or indirectly through property management agencies.
Apartment Maintenance Fees
What does apartment maintenance include when it comes to money and resources? While landlords and property agencies bear most maintenance costs, occupants may also be responsible for certain expenses.
Depending on the agreement, residents could cover fixing broken windows, light bulbs, or damaged fixtures. Property managers take care of bigger expenses such as roof replacement, gas line repair, lawn care, and other exterior expenses. However, the rental agreement or lease should clearly outline these responsibilities.
What Does Apartment Maintenance Include?
The apartment maintenance technician performs activities that include anything from plumbing, pest control, electrical wiring, carpentry, repairs, and painting. The services provided by apartment maintenance vary depending on the size and needs of your building.
Locks, Doors, And Windows
It's not uncommon for studio apartments to require regular maintenance for doors and windows. When moving into your new apartment, ensure the locks and doors are functional.
You should check the locks on ground floor apartments for signs of wear or damage. If you notice any damage or excessive wear, submit a maintenance request to the apartment manager.
It's the maintenance manager's responsibility to fix broken doors. However, if the resident damaged the locks, doors, or windows, they may have to pay for the costs.
Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC)
HVAC maintenance and repair entails various tasks related to installing, maintaining, and repairing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. The property owner or manager can hire HVAC technicians to help install and repair multiple air quality systems, locate and diagnose maintenance problems on equipment, conduct warranty services, and perform emergency repairs on certain equipment items.
An HVAC technician works with furnaces, thermostats, and air conditioning systems to ensure everything runs smoothly throughout a customer’s home.
When HVAC contractors perform maintenance tasks on HVAC systems, they inspect the apparatuses and make sure everything is working, among other tasks. They also clean the evaporator, condenser coils, and air filters, check the refrigerant charge and check fuel line connections.
Kitchen Appliances
Maintaining kitchen appliances in apartments entails caring for them and ensuring they are in good working condition. Residents should take care of the appliances that come with their apartment units and immediately contact their property manager if the appliances stop working properly.
Property managers may hire an appliance service technician to install, service, and repair various household appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and air conditioning units.
Regular inspections and testing of major appliances are integral for ensuring they are safe for residents to use and running at peak performance.
The most common kitchen appliance repairs include:
- Refrigerator
- Oven
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
- Garbage disposal
Smoke Or CO Detectors, And Sprinklers
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke detectors must be inspected semiannually. This maintenance includes functional testing and sensitivity testing. You should maintain smoke detectors per the manufacturer's instructions.
You can notify management to conduct smoke alarm testing using the test button at least once a month. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning to keep smoke alarms working well.
Apartment complex managers should ensure there are no obstructions or dust on the sensor window, which can prevent the alarm from sounding when needed.
As for sprinklers, the International Fire Code (IFC) prescribes the minimum requirements for active fire protection equipment systems. If you're unsure how to check your sprinkler system or what problems might occur, call your maintenance manager or property manager and ask them how often they recommend checking the system.
The maintenance team may choose to replace the batteries on your carbon monoxide detectors at least once a year. If you have a plug-in model, they might recommend regularly checking the power cord to ensure it is connected securely to a working outlet.
It is important to note that maintenance requirements may vary depending on the specific type and model of smoke or CO detectors and sprinklers.
Sinks, Drains, Showers, And Faucets
Sinks and faucet maintenance typically involve activities that ensure the plumbing systems remain safe, attractive, and functional for residents.
This can include a variety of tasks, such as:
- Cleaning the drain pipes occasionally or replacing them with new ones.
- Ensuring that there are no leaks in the pipes
- Checking pressure level and temperature of showers and bathtub faucets
If your drains are clogged, it could mean that there is hair in them or a foreign object has been flushed down the toilet. Maintenance workers can resolve this using a drain cleaner or plunging the drain.
If you notice that water is leaking from your faucet while it is turned off, there may be something wrong with the valve inside it.
You will need to call a plumber to replace the part needed for your faucet to work properly again.
If you have no water pressure coming from your showerhead, it could mean that something is blocking the water flow through your piping system.
The property owner or maintenance supervisor can contract a plumber to solve these issues.
What's The Difference Between Emergency And Non-Emergency Repairs?
Below are the major differences between emergency vs. non-emergency repairs.
Emergency Repairs
Emergency maintenance repairs often need immediate attention. This includes any situation that risks your health, safety, or your apartment's structure. Examples include gas leaks, faulty electrical outlets, loss of power, and a burst pipe.
Most apartment complexes have a 24/7 number when residents have a maintenance emergency.
Non-emergency repairs
Non-emergency repairs are less urgent. They include broken refrigerators or ovens and furnace or air conditioner failure. Non-emergency repairs also include replacing light bulbs, pest control, and broken window or door locks.
Ensure Apartment Maintenance With RentCheck
Apartment maintenance is crucial for buildings and enhances residents' safety and well-being. RentCheck can help busy property and maintenance managers quickly perform maintenance inspections.
RentCheck also allows residents to perform maintenance inspections on their own. If you are looking to take your apartment maintenance to the next level, look no further than RentCheck. Contact us today!
