When a rental repair is a necessity
If you own a rental, there will be times when a repair is an absolute necessity and other occasions where the renter’s request to fix or alter the property is something you can weigh up and consider.
But what exactly is the difference? When is a repair required and when might it be optional?
To make the property safe and liveable
Owners have a responsibility under the law to ensure the property they rent out is safe and liveable, and if a repair is needed to ensure that’s the case, it is an absolute necessity.
In fact, in most cases these types of repairs are considered emergencies, and must be completed within as little as 24 hours.
Emergency repairs relate to things like the following:
- A burst or broken hot water service
- A blocked or broken toilet system
- A serious roof leak
- A gas leak
- A dangerous electrical fault
- Flooding or serious flood damage
- Serious storm or fire damage
- A failure or breakdown of any essential service for hot water, cooking, heating or laundering
- A failure or breakdown of gas, electricity or water supply
- Any fault or damage that makes the rented property unsafe or unsecure
- A serious fault in a lift or staircase in the rented premises.
To maintain the standard of the property
When a renter signs the rental agreement, they are agreeing to pay for a property that is in a certain condition.
Therefore, if something that was functional at the outset of the rental agreement breaks or stops working during normal use, the owner of the property should fix it.Â
Alternatively, the owner can reduce the rent to reflect the fact that fixture, fitting or element of the property is no longer working.
For example, if a renter moves into a property with a working dishwasher and that dishwasher later breaks, the owner should fix it.Â
If not, the rent might need to be altered to reflect the fact the property does not have a working dishwasher.
Considering the needs of the renter
Sometimes renters may request additions or changes that improve the property’s liveability.
These aren’t technically repairs but are potentially worth considering. For example, the renter may ask for an exterior blind to be installed on the patio to reduce afternoon sun in the home.
Or they may ask for other items such as curtains, an NBN connection, or the installation of an overhead fan.Â
While the owner isn’t necessarily ‘obliged’ to provide these items, they are worth considering. After all, these improvements may help you retain a quality renter and make your property more appealing to new renters in the future.
