Often times, tenants are surprised to learn there are some parts of maintenance that is their responsibility. It’s broken out in the MVP lease, but here’s a quick overview of the most common maintenance items missed by tenants. Saving you from additional charges!
Battery maintenance for all smoke and CO detectors on premises. If you experience false alarms or the beeps that mean “end of life” for the unit, alert MVP so we can get them replaced ASAP. Do not just remove battery and forget about it. It’s a good idea to test them monthly, so you know you are protected.
If your home has a furnace, you need to replace and maintain the filters. Smaller filters, such as the 1″ thick style, should be replaced every 3 months. If you have a thicker filter size, read on the package for best practices. Keeping up on furnace filter replacements help with air quality in the home. The unit will also run more efficiently.
Light bulbs burn out. It is your responsibility to replace and maintain them, particularly when you move out. If you leave burnt bulbs, it will cost more to have someone else replace them for you.
It’s important to place furniture slightly away from walls to promote better air flow. It helps prevent moisture buildup and improves HVAC efficiency. KEEP FURNITURE 3 FT FROM IN-WALL HEATERS / BASEBOARDS. This is a fire hazard and can also cause unit to fail.
In the bathrooms and laundry rooms (if applicable), you must run the fans regularly. This will help prevent excessive mildew or mold from accumulating. If mildew/mold begin to appear, clean affected area with a produce such as vinegar or diluted bleach. Proper ventilation will help prevent the problem. It’s best to run the fan 30-60 mins after each shower. If your exhaust fan is not operational, alert MVP right away.
Basic / typical insect and rodent control is a common tenant maintenance item. Especially sugar ants every spring. The best first step, which is recommended by many pest companies, is to place liquid ant bait and let it do the work. Do your best NOT to kill the ants. That doesn’t help. Place the bait in the ant trail and they will take it back to their nest, eliminating the source.
Other necessary steps include keeping the dwelling clean, inside and out. Keep food waste cleaned up and properly disposed. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed back away from the structure.
If you make attempts and still find it a struggle to maintain, alert MVP. Perhaps it’s a larger issue than what is usual – and that is an owner expense.
Unless your lease states moving or other landscape needs are included, you are responsible to water, mow, weed and maintain the yard. Especially if you are in an HOA that fines when it is not maintained. Those fines will be passed to you, so please be sure to maintain them. All the way until the last day of your lease.
Each fall, you must remove any hoses from their spigots and add faucet covers, to protect the lines from freezing.
Leaks happen. You may not be responsible for the leak itself, but you could find yourself responsible if you do not report it right away. For water leaks, you must do all you can to turn off the water in order to stop the leak. Sometimes that means at the sink or toilet, or it may mean finding it at the street. Call your water company if you don’t know how to turn off the water. They have emergency services to help day or night. Then call MVP to report it. We have an after hours emergency line. Unless you have fully stopped the leak, DO NOT ONLY REPORT IN THE PORTAL. If you caught the leak early and were able to stop the leak, reporting through the portal may be acceptable.
It’s surprising how little water it takes to ruin cabinets, drywall, and flooring. We may need to call out a professional to help with the dry out. We need your help to make sure we protect the property as quickly as possible.
This may not cover all areas of responsibility. Please review your lease and maintenance instructions thoroughly. This was an example of the most common issues we wanted to share with you.
Thank you for being part of our MVP Community. We value your partnership in caring for the home.
