According to The Ascent, per home service directory Thumbtack, annual home maintenance costs for single-family homes in the U.S. increased 4.68% year over year, reaching $10,147 in 2Q24. As the article also pointed out, renters have it lucky because if something goes wrong, they just need to ring their landlord.
So, if you're the landlord, you must do your due diligence on rental property upkeep; otherwise, you risk busting your budget and income. Luckily, there's a way to keep your Palm Harbor rental property in top shape and avoid heftier repairs: Proper maintenance coordination.
PMI Pinellas has shared property maintenance tips to help you get started, so read on.
Put Into Writing Your Tenants' Maintenance Duties
While most property maintenance tasks are your (the landlord's) responsibilities, your tenants also have maintenance duties under Florida Statutes, Part II, Chapter 83. As the Pinellas County government site explains, tenants' maintenance responsibilities include:
- Abiding by all housing and health codes
- Maintaining the unit's and premises' cleanliness
- Proper garbage disposal and removal
- Not abusing critical systems and facilities (e.g., plumbing, electrical, and HVAC)
To ensure tenants understand their duties, put everything into writing using plain language. During the move-in process, verbally and clearly explain each item (e.g., what they must do vs. what they can't do) and the cost of breaking the lease, which, in most cases, is eviction.
Notify Tenants About Maintenance in Advance
One of the most crucial pieces of landlord maintenance advice you should abide by is to ensure you always coordinate maintenance schedules and notify tenants at least a day beforehand. Yes, it's your right to enter your rental unit under Florida Statutes, Part II, Chapter 83, Section 83.53 to:
- Inspect the premises
- Conduct necessary maintenance
- Perform needed or agreed-upon repairs
But you can only do the above if you've given tenants reasonable notice, you conduct them at a reasonable time, and your renters have consented. The law defines "reasonable notice" as 24 hours in advance and "reasonable time" as between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Note, though, that there's no need for an advanced notice during an emergency, such as a plumbing leak or fire.
Giving proper notice is also one of the most effective tenant satisfaction strategies, as it shows them you're courteous and respect their right to quiet enjoyment of the property.
Hire a Palm Harbor Property Manager
The most straightforward way to coordinate your Palm Harbor property maintenance is by hiring a local rental management company. A dedicated property manager will take over most of your landlord duties and chores, such as:
- Marketing
- Tenant placement and management
- Rent collection
- Property oversight
Your manager will communicate with your tenants, notify them of maintenance, and keep them happy.
Let PMI Pinellas Handle Your Property's Maintenance Coordination
Maintenance coordination is crucial to ensuring your property remains safe and habitable and that you don't violate your tenants' rights to quiet enjoyment. If you're too busy to do so, consider outsourcing your property's management to PMI Pinellas.
PMI Pinellas is a full-service provider of rental management solutions in the Palm Harbor, FL, area. We're also a proud member of PMI, a larger franchise that has continuously improved the property management industry for over 20 years.
Contact us today, and we'll happily answer all your questions and give you a free property analysis!
