We have talked about maintenance on your property before, and it’s important to distinguish between deferred maintenance and emergency maintenance. You will be required to treat each type of maintenance situation differently.
Defining Deferred Maintenance
Deferred maintenance is something like a faucet with a slow drip or a slight breeze that you feel coming in and through the bottom of a door or the swamp cooler on the ceiling. These are maintenance items that should be taken care of and will be taken care of, but emergencies are more of a priority.
Defining Emergency Maintenance
Emergencies are not always fires and other catastrophes. Think about things that affect the habitability of the property. In Utah, we have the Utah Fit Premises Act. It outlines what directly affects the habitability of your unit. These are the things that need to be taken care of right away, and there is a timeframe that you have to follow.
Utah Fit Premises Act
Here’s an overview of that Act. There are many different points that require your consideration, but these five are crucial.
- Does the issue or the emergency affect the running water or the operational plumbing, including the sewer? If so, it must be remedied right away.
- Does it affect the electrical system? If it affects the power, it has to be remedied right away.
- Does it involve the heat and hot water availability? If the hot water goes out, you need to take care of it immediately.
- The property must be secure. If the locks fail or the windows don’t close, we are required to make those repairs. It’s the law that y
ou provide a property that is safe and secure. - Air conditioning matters if it was in place when your tenants rented the property. If installed, any air conditioning must be maintained so it’s in working order.
That’s just a brief overview of the Utah Fit Premises Act. If you have any questions about property management in West Jordan, please contact us at Property Solutions of Utah.
