Maintenance Agreement
I want to write up a maintenance agreement where the tenant pays a $25 deductable for any minor repairs, then I pay the balance for anything of $25. I plan to exclude the following and pay 100% of such repairs:
Heating,
A/C
Roof
Structure
Water heater
Stove
Water main
Sewer main
Electrical main.
By minor repairs that I want the deductable to apply to, I mean leaky faucets, broken toilet paper holders/towel bars, broken light switches/switch plates, tight locks/doors/windows, small cracks in the ceiling/walls, cosmetic issues, dishwasher or garbage disposal issues, other minor appliances.
Does anyone do this or have some paperwork I could base my policy off of?
Have any tips on maintenance?
Sorry, no paperwork. I used to rent out houses long ago, and may to get into it again one day, but will have to start my lease agreements from scratch too.
But a word of advice, make sure you have a clause about tennant caused problems. Like when someone boils over something on the stove (large amount) and it causes the burners to be clogged and a repair bill. Or the outside faucets are not left dripping in cold weather (make it a requirement in the lease) and the pipes freeze. Or the septic or sewer backs up due to non-flushable items being flushed. Etc
And watch out for the do-it-yourselfer (great in some cases) who actually makes a problem worse. Might want a clause to that effect.
Broken toilet paper holders/towel bars, broken light switches (not electrical problems)/switch plates, I always had as the responsibility of the tennant as it is dammage to your home.
Good luck,
Terry
anyone else?
I sure wish some of you OKies would come out here because I never got nothing repaired for $25 in a long, long time. Dang!!!!!
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That would be my first suggestion. The tenant is responsible for all repairs up to $100. At $25+, you will know the true meaning of landlording!
Next, all kitchen and laundry appliances should be considered personal property and not part of the lease. They are there as a convenience. The tenant can or cannot use them . If they don't work they fiix them .
Hey,
The amount of repairs the tenant pays for is a fine line to walk. If the cutoff is too low, the phone doesn't stop ringing and if it is too much, the house will fall apart.
Mine is $50.
I know you have not included the actual wording of the items you have excluded from this rule, so I may be off base, but they are very vague. This will get your in trouble.
Does the tenant have to change the filter on the HVAC?
The waste pipes are clogged; does the tenant pay to fix them?
The water pipe froze and burst; who pays for it?
A full pot of water spilt on the stove and now it does not work; who pays for it?
If I was your tenant, YOU would be responsible for all of these events, because they are excluded from the contract.
Be careful.