12 Most Common Property Repairs: What Every Landlord Needs to Know
TL;DR - You can be your own landlord or hire a property manager. Regardless, it’s good to know what types of repairs you’ll have to deal with when owning a property. The most important thing is staying ahead with regular maintenance. This will help you avoid major problems.
Whether you’re your own landlord…
Or you hire a property manager…
Part of owning a home is dealing with property repairs.
And while it’d be nice if your rental never broke down, it will at some point.
So instead of delaying responsibility…
It’s best if you understand the most common repairs that you’ll have to deal with.
You’ll thank yourself later, because doing this will save you a TON of money.
Potentially huge problems will become a minor inconvenience.
So let’s get into it!
12 Most Common Property Repairs: What Every Landlord Needs to Know
To Landlord… or Not to Landlord
It’s no secret that being a landlord comes with a lot of responsibility.
One of the biggest responsibilities is maintaining the property and dealing with repairs.
You can either choose to deal with these repairs yourself or hire a property manager.
If you decide to handle everything on your own, be prepared for some late nights and stressful weekends.
You’ll also need to have a pretty good understanding of how to fix things.
If you don’t feel confident in your abilities, it’s probably best to hire a property manager.
They will take care of everything for you and deal with the repairs as they come up.
Of course, hiring a property manager does come at a cost.
But in the long run, it may be worth it for your peace of mind.
The 12 Most Common Property Repairs
Of course, there are more than 12 property repairs that you or your property manager will come across.
But these are the most common.
1. Appliances Not Working
One of the most common problems landlords have to deal with is appliances not working.
This can be a fridge, oven, dishwasher, or any other appliance in the rental.
There are a few things that can cause this problem:
The appliance is old and needs to be replaced
There’s a problem with the wiring
The appliance isn’t getting enough power
A random part needs to be fixed
If the appliance is old and needs to be replaced, the best thing you can do is buy a new or used one.
Sometimes a used appliance is cheaper and in almost-new condition.
It’s best to have it professionally installed when you can.
When the old appliance can be fixed, you’ll need a qualified appliance repair person.
Expect to pay between $50-100 an hour. The good news is that most repairs can be finished within an hour!
2. Water Leaking
Another common repair that landlords have to deal with is water leaking. This can be a leaky pipe, a dripping faucet, or even a toilet that won’t stop running.
Leaks can cause serious damage to your rental property if they’re not fixed right away.
Water leaking from a pipe can damage the walls, floors, and ceilings. It can also lead to mold growth, which is a health hazard.
To fix a leaky pipe, you’ll need to call a qualified contractor.
They’ll be able to determine where the leak is coming from and fix it. Or tell you if you need another contractor for the job.
Don’t skimp out on this issue — hire the best contractor you can find.
3. Hot Water Not Working
When a tenant loses hot water, the water heater is the likely culprit.
Hot water heaters cost around $600 when replaced by a plumber.
There’s also a part in the water heater called the “heating element”.
To fix this, you can buy a $20 part and spend a few hours of your own time. Or you can hire a plumber, which will cost you a few hundred dollars.
4. Pipes
Pipes can cause a lot of problems in rental properties. They can leak, freeze, burst, crack, clog, and disconnect.
If your property’s pipes need fixing, you’ll need to call a qualified plumber.
Make sure that your tenant lets you or your property manager know when any pipe leaks or leaves a wet spot under it. Also, ask them to do their part in preventing pipes from freezing.
They should keep their thermostat above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, let water drip from the faucet.
Even small leaks can cost a lot of money down the line, so keep them in mind!
5. Toilets
Landlords can get annoyed with toilet fixes because they’re so easy to prevent.
Just don’t put things in them that don’t belong there!
Stuff like:
Baby wipes
Paper towels
Cleaning pads
Cotton balls
Make sure to let your tenants know about this!
If instead, it’s the metal and plastic parts inside your toilet that need to be fixed, hire a qualified contractor.
It’s almost always better to let the professionals handle it.
6. Garbage Disposals
Just like toilets, tenants put things they shouldn’t in garbage disposals.
Things like:
Potato peels
Grease
Bones
Eggshells
Fruit pits
Coffee grounds
If you have garbage disposals in your property, remind your tenants of this.
More often than not, it’s easier on the landlord to remove garbage disposals entirely.
But if you do have one and it breaks, it could be stuck or the motor might have burned out.
If it’s stuck, an Allen wrench will get it going.
If the motor’s blown, you’ll need a new disposal. This will cost you a couple hundred dollars. Plus instillation by a contractor.
7. Smoke Detector
If your smoke detector isn’t working, it’s a problem that needs to be fixed right away.
Smoke detectors are essential for your tenants' health and safety.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends testing your batteries every month and replacing your smoke detectors every 10 years.
If you need repairs or replacements, a professional contractor will cost you around $80 an hour.
8. Furnace
If your property’s furnace isn’t working, your tenants won’t be able to stay warm in the winter.
It’s an important repair beyond that, because it could cost you thousands if not maintained.
There are a few things that can go wrong with a furnace:
The pilot light goes out
Gas is leaking
The furnace is old and needs to be replaced
If your tenant calls about the furnace, get a qualified contractor to your property ASAP.
Any furnace issues likely won’t cost you much, but if left untreated could really add up.
Make sure your tenant is replacing furnace filters regularly and most problems can be avoided.
9. HVAC System
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
The average lifespan of an HVAC system is around 10-20 years. But with proper maintenance, it can last much longer.
As a landlord, you should be prepared to repair or replace your tenants' HVAC system as needed. The most common problems with HVAC systems are faulty thermostats, dirty filters, and leaks.
A professional will cost you between $150-450 for repairs, but the price is worth it.
If you don't already have an HVAC maintenance plan in place, now is the time to create one. By doing so, you can avoid expensive repairs or replacements down the road.
10. Electrical Work
Another common repair that landlords have to deal with is electrical work.
Electrical problems can be caused by many things. These include faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and old appliances.
Tenants want their lights to work, so this is a vital repair to consider.
If you have an electrical problem in your rental property, it's important to call a professional electrician.
They’ll be able to diagnose the issue and let you know about any underlying problems.
Expect to pay anywhere from $140-400.
11. Drywall
Drywall can be damaged by a number of things, including water leaks, holes from nails or screws, and cracks.
If you need to repair drywall in your rental property, it's important to patch the hole or crack as soon as possible. This will help prevent further damage to the drywall and avoid any potential injuries.
If you have tenants who are causing unapproved damage to the drywall, take action immediately.
Allowing the problem to continue will only make it worse and more expensive to fix.
12. Pests
Pests are a common problem in rental properties. The most common pests are rats, mice, cockroaches, and ants.
If your tenants are dealing with a pest problem, you need to deal with the infestation ASAP.
The best way to deal with a pest problem is to hire a professional exterminator. They will be able to get rid of the pests quickly and efficiently.
It's also important to make sure that your tenants are taking steps to prevent pests from coming into their unit. This includes keeping food sealed and preventing water leaks.
Finally, ensure that any holes that bugs or rodents could use to get into your property are sealed.
Go Forth and Prevent Disasters
Now that we’ve gone over the 12 most common property repairs…
You should have a good understanding of what kinds of problems you might have to deal with as a landlord. And how much you’ll have to spend.
Remember, the best way to avoid costly repairs is to perform regular maintenance on your rental property.
By catching problems early, you can save yourself a lot of money and headaches down the line.
So don’t wait until something breaks to fix it — that’s just asking for trouble.
If you have any questions about these repairs or need help finding a reputable contractor, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help!
Happy hunting!
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