Thanks to the city's astonishingly low unemployment rate, Nashville landlords are sitting pretty in terms of finding paying tenants for their investment properties. Unfortunately, you can't expect your landlord journey to consist of plain sailing and handsome profits all the time.
Owning a rental unit involves a lot of hard work. Maintenance coordination is easily the most time-consuming and costly of them all. Is the onus all on the owner to pay for maintenance costs, though?
Read on to find out who's responsible for maintenance costs in Tennessee.
The Legal Landscape for Tennesse Tenants and Landlords
Tennessee landlord-tenant laws stipulate that the landlord must keep their property in a safe and habitable condition according to prevailing building codes. This makes the landlord responsible for maintaining the following aspects of the home:
- Safety equipment like smoke detectors
- Plumbing and water heating
- Climate control
- Roofing
- Structure and windows
- Pest prevention
In return, the tenant must keep the home clean, pay necessary utilities, dispose of garbage, and avoid damages beyond regular wear and tear. In some cases, the landlord could request that tenants take responsibility for things like lawn care or pest control, but they must state this in the lease agreement.
Landlords usually charge a security deposit to cover any maintenance issues discovered after the tenant has left. Clear communication between tenants and landlords is essential to avoid misunderstandings and keep the property well-maintained.
What Is Maintenance Coordination?
Efficient property maintenance coordination encourages lease renewals and preserves the value of your property. It is an ongoing process and involves several important steps:
- Setting up a calendar for routine and preventive maintenance
- Regular property inspections
- Obtaining quotes for maintenance work
- Hiring qualified, licensed contractors
- Overseeing maintenance and repairs
- Arranging payment
- Keeping maintenance records
In addition, the landlord must manage tenant maintenance requests and attend to repair requests promptly.
You can hire a property manager to take care of all these details for you, but their property management fees don't cover the costs of maintenance and repairs.
What Is the Role of a Property Manager?
A property management firm can save you time and money thanks to comprehensive rental property inspections. During these visits, a property manager may identify potential maintenance issues and take action to prevent them from getting worse.
They also have ongoing relationships with reputable local contractors that help ensure you get the best prices and speedy service.
Your property manager may deduct rental property maintenance costs from rent collected on your behalf or send the invoice to you for payment. Some property managers use a portion of your monthly rental income to set up a reserve fund for costly repairs.
This fund serves as a useful buffer against unexpected repair or maintenance costs.
Alleviate Your Property Maintenance Hassles
Evernest property management services can help you make light work of maintenance coordination in Nashville, TN. We offer a comprehensive range of services for landlords, including property inspections and an in-house maintenance team.
Our reputation for excellence and portfolio of over 16,000 properties speak for themselves. Explore simple solutions for managing your Nashville investment property today.
