Repairs You Shouldn’t Try on Your Own: DIYs That Could Hurt Your Lease
The feeling of success you get when you finish a DIY project in your apartment is unparalleled. Some maintenance, on the other hand, should be left to your landlord or property manager.
You can tackle simple repairs like changing a lightbulb on your own, but if you’re not careful, you could find up breaking your lease terms. You also run the risk of losing your security deposit. Here are a few maintenance issues you should leave to the professionals.
APPLIANCES THAT ARE BROKEN OR MALFUNCTIONING
Perhaps your dryer broke down when you were doing your first load of washing, your refrigerator isn’t cold, or the air conditioning ran out in the summer. Avoid the temptation to look for DIY solutions online, as appealing as they may seem.
Appliances are expensive, so you don’t want to make matters worse by attempting to repair it yourself and further harming them. An expert will be able to precisely diagnose the issue and recommend the best course of action.
ELECTRICAL SOCKETS THAT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS
Although no one wants to get electrocuted, some renters make the mistake of attempting to repair electrical issues alone. Although a little fracture in an electric outlet may not appear to be a big issue at first look, leave it alone and get maintenance as soon as possible.
PESTS
Despite the fact that there are simple, temporary solutions for ants, mice, roaches, and other pests, it is normally the landlord’s responsibility to exterminate them, unless the infestation is the consequence of tenant neglect. Traps can help slow down an infestation, but your landlord or property manager will need to appoint a specialist to completely eradicate the bugs.
GAS LEAK
A gas leak is a maintenance emergency that should be handled by your landlord alone. A gas leak could result in a fire or an explosion, so report it right once. Gas exposure can result in significant physical injury, including death, therefore contact maintenance immediately.
BLOCKED GUTTERS
Clogged gutters can cause more serious problems, such as roof damage and vermin infestation if you rent your home. It may appear like clearing gutters is as simple as grabbing a ladder and sweeping out the leaves, but this is not the case. As you fall to the earth, you may lose your equilibrium, grab the gutter, and rip it off. It’s preferable to leave it to the maintenance crew because it’s dangerous and may do further damage.
AIR CONDITIONING REPAIRS
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in a home are referred to as HVAC. Landlords are required by law to provide renters with safe and sanitary living conditions, which includes handling HVAC maintenance. Although all jurisdictions require landlords to supply heat, not all states require air conditioning, so knowing your local and state rules is critical.
