Common Responsibilities That Landlords Overlook

Landlords have lots of huge responsibilities, like taking care of repairs and making sure the property you live in is safe and up to code.  There are some other obligations that should be provided but are sometimes swept under the rug.It is important to note that the responsibility of a landlord will vary widely due to local laws and leases, but their duties and obligations are more or less standard across the board.  Keep reading to find out the common responsibilities that landlords overlook, and click this link to read the full article.

1. Shutting down the party

In a multifamily or multiple-tenant building, the landlord has to make sure all tenants can reasonably enjoy their apartment, which means cracking down on trumpet playing, tap dancing, and, yes, late-night revelry, says Ernie Rafailides, managing partner of Bayview Management, in Towson, MD.So if you have some noisy neighbors and a knock at the door doesn’t solve the problem, your landlord can and should step in to restore the peace.

2. Unclogging the toilet

Surprise! You can probably call your landlord to come fix this messy issue. Be warned that he might not be happy about it, but that's too bad! However, if he discovers a feminine hygiene product, child's toy, or anything other than toilet paper in there, you could be charged for the repair, notes Rafailides. So you might want to fish out those collectors'-edition Boba Fett figurines yourself.

3. Taking care of general maintenance

One of the beautiful parts of renting is that you don’t have to deal with typical "honey do" tasks that come with homeownership—your landlord is likely responsible for the bulk of them! We’re talking dryer maintenance, gutter cleaning, changing the air filters on the HVAC system, snow removal, cleaning the fireplace, and managing the landscaping, including the sprinkler system. The specifics on what "general maintenance" entails is usually spelled out in your lease.You can expect your landlord to handle all those tasks that make damage or deterioration to the specific system or the property in general, says Alex Kamunya, partner of the KAM House Buyers, in Boston. So just sit back, read an e-book, and let your landlord take care of the maintenance. Admit it: This can make sending your rent check a little easier to handle.