Apartment renters enjoy the luxury of not having to worrying about home repairs and maintenance, and the expenses that come with this maintenance. However, something is bound to malfunction from time to time, which is why you need to know when to submit an apartment emergency maintenance request.
What is apartment maintenance?
Apartment maintenance refers to activities that keep housing facilities enjoyable, habitable, and safe. It involves landscaping, HVAC repairs, plumbing, pest control, and cleaning, among other tasks. Apartment managers and maintenance experts often oversee these routine tasks. Follow the steps below to submit a maintenance request:
- Contact your property manager or maintenance shortly after you’ve noticed a problem
- Follow up in writing
- Wait the proper amount of time
- Consider dealing with minor issues yourself
What’s involved with an apartment emergency maintenance request?
You need to understand what counts as an emergency when maintenance problems arise. Some issues that might create inconvenience or discomfort don’t constitute emergencies. When a maintenance problem occurs after hours, you might have to wait until the next day to have your apartment complex’s maintenance department respond to the problem.
What is an apartment emergency?
Any maintenance problem that could endanger safety and health, significant property damage, or injury is an emergency. Some of these maintenance issues include but are not limited to:
Gas leak
A natural gas leak creates a dangerous situation in an apartment. This gas leak comes with the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or an explosion. Fortunately, gas manufacturing companies add a sulfur smell to the gas to help you detect a leak quickly.
If you sense a gas leak, you should first turn off the gas line and gas appliances. Evacuate the premises and immediately call 911. Under no circumstances should you attempt to produce a flame or spark that could cause an explosion.
Flooding
If you have a minor water leak that you can control until an apartment maintenance staff visits you, the water leak isn’t an emergency. However, if your apartment has a significant water leak problem that could cause damage to your belongings or the apartment, contact your apartment’s maintenance supervisor immediately.
Meanwhile, try turning off the faucet that supplies water to the faulty pipes and the exterior water main if you can locate it. Do everything you can to contain the leak and control the spread of water. Notify other renters so that they’re aware of the problem.
HVAC problems
Occasions can arise with HVAC problems that constitute a nonemergency. For example, if your HVAC unit malfunctions during the summer, you’ll want to contact apartment maintenance as soon as possible. Alternatively, notify maintenance immediately if the heat doesn’t work and temperatures drop in your apartment during the winter.
Report any issues with your HVAC unit to property management immediately once they start to appear. Hopefully, with timely inspection, apartment maintenance personnel can correct problems with your HVAC system before a problem occurs.
Power outage
An electrical failure inside your apartment or in lighted outdoor areas constitutes an emergency. Before you call maintenance, however, ensure you’ve checked for any burned-out fuses, attempted to reset GFI breakers on your outlets, and have checked and reset tripped circuits in the circuit breaker.
Fire in the apartment
An apartment unit on fire is an emergency. Loss of life and property damages can occur if you don’t take action immediately. Your first response should involve calling 911 and reporting the issue.
Vacate the building immediately and wait for the emergency team to arrive. Fires are hazardous and cause a lot of destruction. That’s why you want to have renter’s insurance to cover property damage.
No water in the apartment
The lack of running water in the apartment complex is a maintenance emergency. Call apartment maintenance to check the cause. Generally, rusty or clogged water lines and water main breaks can cause issues.
Carbon monoxide presence
Having carbon monoxide present in your apartment is hazardous to your life. In these scenarios, you should report any carbon monoxide problems immediately. A carbon monoxide detector is essential to help keep you and anyone who lives with you safe. If your carbon monoxide sounds, take the following actions immediately:
- Vacate the apartment immediately.
- Contact your apartment emergency maintenance department immediately.
- Visit a hospital emergency room or a doctor to ensure you and your loved ones receive treatment for possible carbon monoxide exposure.
Any problem that impairs the safety or habitability of your apartment should be considered an emergency maintenance problem, and your apartment emergency management department should correct the problem as soon as possible.
What is not considered a maintenance emergency?
Many regular maintenance concerns don’t require expedited priority or immediate attention. While an inconvenience, they’re typically minor issues that can wait until apartment maintenance addresses them. Some examples include:
- No hot water
- Appliance malfunction
- Noise complaints
- A broken ice maker in the refrigerator
- Dripping faucets
- Parking disputes
- Minor leaks in water and sewage pipes that you can contain
- Appliances not working correctly, such as a washer, dryer, stove, or microwave
- Broken hinges or handles on doors or cabinets
Bottom line: Don’t postpone emergency maintenance requests
Requesting help promptly and efficiently can save you significant trouble, so don’t put off submitting apartment emergency maintenance calls. To prevent some problems from occurring, be sure to schedule routine maintenance inspections for items such as your HVAC system.
Even the best property managers can’t predict every issue that can occur in an apartment. Your role as a renter is crucial. Be sure to maintain your apartment as best as possible, identify a potential problem, and take steps before a minor issue becomes a significant one.
In the end, determining whether you have an apartment emergency maintenance issue comes down to your better judgment. If an issue poses a threat to you or your belongings, you’ll want to correct the problem immediately. Doing so can help you keep your apartment in good working order.
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