Skip to Content

What Qualifies as an Emergency Maintenance Request?

Rental home resident holding a bucket under a water leak.Many property managers understand the necessity to act immediately when a resident calls with an emergency maintenance request. But which maintenance requests are emergencies, demanding immediate attention, and which are less urgent? This raises a significant difficulty for property owners, as some issues, while causing discomfort or inconvenience, do not qualify as true emergencies. On the flip side, other maintenance issues are sufficiently serious to be addressed immediately or risk violating Landlord/Tenant laws or habitability codes. Comprehending the distinction between the two can enable you to proficiently handle all your renter’s maintenance requests.

What defines an emergency repair?

One way to know when you have a true emergency on your hands or not is to contemplate to what degree the maintenance issue could cause injury, severe property damage, or jeopardize your resident’s health and safety. Any matter that fulfills this requirement would generally be considered an emergency. Common emergencies encompass:

  • Gas Leak
  • Frozen or Broken Water Lines
  • Flooding or Water Emergencies
  • Fire
  • Carbon Monoxide Detection
  • Sewer Back-up
  • No Heat in Cold Weather
  • No Air Conditioning in Extremely Hot Temperatures
  • Extended Power Outage
  • Intruder Break-In

Determining an Emergency from Non-Emergency

You need to keep in mind that certain maintenance items may be emergencies in one context but not in another. For example, a broken air conditioner is not an emergency during cool weather. Nonetheless, it unquestionably is during a heatwave where temperatures reach dangerous levels.

Refusal to respond immediately to emergencies, even those transpiring at night, may violate habitability laws and can result in serious legal trouble. This is especially relevant if your inaction prompts your tenant to take matters into their own hands and manage or make the repairs themselves.

Non-Emergency Maintenance Types

In contrast, other maintenance issues, while frustrating, are not typically classified as emergencies unless there are extenuating circumstances. For instance, a malfunctioning appliance, no hot water, or tiny breaches may be troublesome for your residents but usually do not qualify under the category of an emergency repair. These maintenance issues should be reported as regular maintenance requests, which can be processed during business hours.

For rental property owners, comprehending what constitutes an emergency maintenance issue and how to respond appropriately is crucial for effective property management. If you cannot swiftly respond to such requests or have conflicting time obligations, it may be wise to hire a quality property management company servicing the Warner Robins area and surrounding neighborhoods. Contact us online or call 478-257-7055 for more info about what Real Property Management Vesta provides rental property owners such as yourself.

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.

The Neighborly Done Right Promise

The Neighborly Done Right Promise ® delivered by Real Property Management, a proud Neighborly company

When it comes to finding the right property manager for your investment property, you want to know that they stand behind their work and get the job done right – the first time. At Real Property Management we have the expertise, technology, and systems to manage your property the right way. We work hard to optimize your return on investment while preserving your asset and giving you peace of mind. Our highly trained and skilled team works hard so you can be sure your property's management will be Done Right.

Canada excluded. Services performed by independently owned and operated franchises.

See Full Details