Whenever you’re in the market for a Flower Mound rental home, the goal of the vast majority of us is to move into a clean and well-maintained property. But keeping a rental house that way takes effort from both you and your landlord. While your landlord has a responsibility to make sure that the property is in a habitable condition, indeed, some maintenance tasks that you are expected to do as long as you’re a renter. Let’s take a closer look at its most prominent maintenance issues for which a renter is responsible.
Taking Out the Trash
Keeping your rental home free of trash and garbage is a renter’s most important responsibility. Leaving trash or other items around can make the property look and smell bad and invite pests and diseases. If your landlord doesn’t provide trash disposal, sign up for service as soon as you move in.
Pest Prevention
Speaking of pests, if any do find their way into your rental home, it is generally accepted that it is your responsibility of exterminating them. The landlord should have ensured there were no pests on the property before your arrival. But once you live there, it’s your job to clean the place and treat infestations instantly. If an infestation gets to the point of needing professional extermination, make sure to contact your Flower Mound property manager. If you move out and leave pests behind, you could be financially responsible for treating the property.
Yard Maintenance
Keeping your rental property clean and tidy consists of the interior and exterior of the home. Most of the time, renters are responsible for maintaining the landscaping. Additionally, this implies keeping the driveway, walkway, steps, and other areas free of snow, debris, and other items. From time to time, a landlord may offer these services to you for an additional fee. Check your lease thoroughly – it should describe your landlord’s expectations concerning yard maintenance.
Replacing Smoke Detector Batteries and Light Bulbs
You may not notice your rental home’s smoke detectors or light bulbs until they stop working or start beeping in the middle of the night! For the most part, the renter is responsible for replacing the batteries in your smoke detectors and replacing any burned-out light bulbs as long as you still reside in the home. Though, if a smoke detector is malfunctioning, be sure to contact your landlord. When that happens, it’s their job to replace or fix it.
Preventing Mold
Mold can grow anywhere, but prevention isn’t too complicated. As a renter, it is it your responsibility to keep mold from growing in your rental home. A few easy ways to prevent mold from developing include ensuring that your home has good ventilation and addressing excess moisture immediately. For example, leaving damp towels or clothing in a corner, letting a steamy bathroom sit closed off without a fan or window, or ignoring leaking plumbing can all lead to mold. If mold starts to grow, clean it up directly with bleach. By taking a few simple precautions, there is a lot you can do to prevent mold in your home.
Respect the Property
As a renter, it is crucial to utilize each rental home element correctly and with respect. The appropriate usage of appliances, plumbing, electrical, and septic systems, among other things. Although regular wear and tear happen, any damage to these items due to inappropriate use is almost always the renter’s responsibility. This could mean an expensive repair bill and a very unhappy landlord, as well. Right away, you must contact your landlord if you notice any repair issues that are not your responsibility. Allowing broken pipes or malfunctioning appliances to go unaddressed could turn out badly for you since small maintenance issues can quickly turn into big repairs.
Are you looking for a rental home that is in great condition – managed by a landlord committed to keeping it that way? Look no further than Real Property Management Lakeview! We have an inventory of great homes in your area; view our current listings online.
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