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Have you ever dealt with water damage in your rental home? If you have, you know that it's expensive and a hassle!
So, as a landlord, you want to try to avoid this issue.
Even small water leaks can lead to water damage that ruin your walls, floors and furniture. Water leaks can also have a serious impact on your roof and plumbing system.
Some of the common causes of water damage are:
- Malfunctioning plumbing fixtures and appliances
- Old and damaged supply hoses
- Clogged gutters
- Burst pipes
- Water build-up
- Backups from sewage
- Pressure arising from blocked garbage disposal
Some of the signs of water damage are:
- The smell of mold and mildew even after kitchen or bathroom cleanup
- The sight of stained ceilings
- Paint that blisters
- Walls that appear to have cracks
- Seeing a pooling of water on the floor
- Water bill hike
- Presence of dry rot in wooden areas of your home
In this post, we are going over all the ways to avoid water damage in your rental homes.
How do you Prevent Water Damage in your Rental?
1. Take time to perform a yearly plumbing and appliances inspection.
You must periodically examine the plumbing and all appliances and fixtures related to water in your rental. This can include your toilets, refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines.
This is a vital step in property maintenance. Otherwise, tiny leaks can lead to high expenses if you’re unable to spot the water leak.
Just be sure to send a notice to your tenants before you inspect their rental property.
2. Examine the roofs and attics yearly.
Damaged roofs can contribute to water damage in rental homes. Some roofs only last for 15-20 years.
Regular inspections of your roof are encouraged. You can either do the inspections yourself or you can hire a professional to perform it.
3. Proper gutter cleaning and maintenance.
Gutters play a prime role in your roof system. They help redirect water from the roof, walls and building foundation. When gutters are filled with debris, you risk having water close to your foundation, causing cracks.
You can schedule a gutter cleanup in the spring and late fall when blossoms, twigs and dead leaves can clog it. Doing so will keep your roof in great form.
4. Cultivate an open communication with your tenants.
Encourage your renters to report property issues. You can help develop good communication between your renters by opening more channels for feedback and information. Leave them with your contact number, so they can call or message you.
You can also invest in a software where they can conveniently log in their maintenance requests. Tell your renters to send you a notice when the water utility bill suddenly increases or their faucets are leaking. Mold issues are also something to watch out for and could stem from water damage as well as roof leaks.
5. Proper oil, grease and cooking fats disposal.
Did you know that when cooking oils cool off, they turn into a solid mass?
If your renter pours the cooking oil down the kitchen pipe, it can lead to clogging. Remind your renters not to pour the grease down the drainage system. Instead, encourage them to place the excess oil in disposable storage containers that they can place in the garbage bin when the liquid has solidified.
6. Study your insurance coverage and require renter insurance.
It’s crucial to understand what your insurance policy covers in regards to water damage of your rental property. In addition, you can also make it a requirement for your tenants to have renters insurance. This will protect them from shouldering a hefty cost of the water damage repair caused by their negligent actions.
For instance, consider this: A renter accidentally floods the kitchen area by leaving a faucet on. This leads to damaging the floor and some furniture. Having renter insurance helps them save money. It also means your finances are protected.
Bottom Line
We hope this article about avoiding water damage in your rental was helpful!
As an overview, here’s how to prevent water damage:
- Perform plumbing and appliance inspections
- Examine the roof and attic
- Clean and maintain the gutter
- Have open communication with your renters
- Properly dispose of oil, grease and fats
- Understand the insurance policy and get renters insurance
These tips will help you keep your rental property in an outstanding condition and limit the risks of water damage. Strive to act on these methods so you’ll always be safe from exposing yourself to the expensive repair fees for water damage. It will also benefit your tenants as they won’t be inconvenienced while staying in your rental home.
If you're a new landlord, or if you have further questions, feel free to reach out to Pinnacle Property Management today.
