While it may seem like more effort than it’s worth, there are reasons so many landlords put a maintenance request policy in the lease agreements. Not only is it designed to protect you, but it can protect your maintenance staff from frustrations, headaches, and possible legal issues. Here’s why you need a maintenance request policy in your lease.
Request Policies Protect Your Maintenance Team
Your maintenance team is valuable in keeping your rental property running smoothly. Because of that, there are some stipulations that you want to include to protect them and their time. These stipulations should include not calling the maintenance teams to complain or submitting requests outside working hours unless they’re an emergency. Additionally, you should stipulate how much time the maintenance team has to respond to a maintenance request and an emergency. It’s also wise to include that a tenant must always be present during the repair to avoid false damage claims.
Request Policies Prevent Maintenance Team Misuse
Sometimes, a tenant may want an upgraded appliance or may wish to have something refurbished. Because of this, they may purposely cause damage to the unit to have something repaired or replaced. A well-written maintenance request policy should include inspections to observe any damage. Additionally, your request policies should clearly state who is responsible for paying certain repairs and any extra expenses rendered during a repair.
Request Policies Guarantee a Paper Trail
Having a paper trail is critical when running a business. With a maintenance request policy, you have the time, date, and nature of their request written out. A detailed description of maintenance issues prevents the tenant from making false claims. Additionally, it can give you a better idea of where repair finances need to go and help you make better financial decisions.
You need a maintenance request policy in your lease because being a landlord means dealing with people who may not always be honest. If you’re struggling to keep lease documents and policies in order, Excalibur Homes has property leasing companies in Georgia and Tennessee, with workers dedicated to helping protect your investment.
