Whether or not there is a shutdown, things break, and tenants need maintenance and repairs. Planning how to handle these repairs over a quarantine is uncharted territory for most property managers. And while landlord laws and responsibilities vary by state, there are action items everybody can take to keep their tenants and staff safe. Here are some things to consider and resources to help landlords put together a maintenance plan.
An electronic platform can really help you organize and respond to various requests. And the best part is many of these platforms are free! We like Cozy and TenantCloud.
According to an AppFolio survey, 41% of property managers are reducing maintenance to emergency work orders only. Sort through your various maintenance requests to determine what is a priority. Generally, these repairs are considered urgent:
And generally, these repairs are considered routine:
Use your best judgement on your requests.
In the case that maintenance workers need to enter a tenant unit, here are some measures you can take to ensure everyone’s safety:
For additional tenant maintenance resources during COVID-19, see Rentec Direct’s guide “Property Maintenance During COVID-19.”
Related: Rent Forbearance Programs- Develop a Plan, Prepare Your Vacation Rentals for the Coronavirus