As a small business owner or manager, you have 100 things constantly up in the air. With any luck, most of them don’t drop, but even the most organized business has emergencies from time to time. However, it can be very frustrating when one of those emergencies is a maintenance repair.
Tenants and landlords typically share responsibility for repairs to a leased space. Minor repairs that are caused by normal wear and tear are typically the tenant’s responsibility. However, your landlord may want to control major repairs involving the structure or major systems of the building, such as HVAC, plumbing, roofing, or electrical work.
If you believe your landlord is responsible or will want to oversee repair work, always submit a service request before paying for the repairs yourself, But, what if you submit the request and don’t hear back? Your business needs a functioning building, and you can’t wait forever. So, what are your options when your landlord is silent after a service request?
Check the lease.
Tenants are responsible for repairs that are caused by regular wear and tear or caused by employee or customer accidents. The repairs you’re requesting may not be covered by the landlord, in which case you should make arrangements to repair it yourself.
Contact their maintenance partner.
If your landlord works with a specific commercial contractor for repairs, you may try calling them to see if they will do the work and bill the owner instead of you. This may prompt your landlord to respond to you sooner and will ensure you are going through all the proper steps to get the repair done.
Repair and deduct.
If the landlord specifies that they will handle certain repairs in the lease, you are entitled to that service in a timely fashion. If you can’t get your landlord to respond, you can sometimes make the repairs yourself and send the bill to them to deduct from your rent. Before you do this, make sure you’ve contacted the landlord several times and given them ample time to respond. You may even consult with a lawyer to ensure you won’t end up paying out of pocket for expensive repairs you can’t afford without the deduction.
If you can’t wait for a landlord’s response anymore, contact MaintenX for help. We offer affordable repairs and will work with you on solutions that won’t break the bank or disrupt your tenant-landlord relationship. To learn more about maintenance and repair options in your area, contact MaintenX today!
