If you own rental property in Texas, knowing your landlord appliance responsibilities is crucial. Understanding this helps you stay compliant with the law and keep tenants happy.
Running a successful real estate investing business means attracting high-quality tenants and encouraging lease renewals.
One easy way to do that is to repair or replace the major appliances that are included in the lease. This typically includes refrigerators, stoves, and HVAC units. By promptly addressing normal wear and tear, you can comply with all Texas rental appliance maintenance laws.
Doing so will also keep your tenants happy, and protect your investment for years to come.
Below, we’ll discuss Texas landlord appliance responsibilities in more detail. We will also cover what responsibilities the tenant has in this area.
What Are the Landlord Appliance Responsibilities?
According to Texas law, landlords have to make a diligent effort to repair problems that materially affect the health or safety of tenants.
This wording might seem a little vague. Essentially, it means that the landlord is responsible for ensuring all tenants have habitable conditions in the property they are renting. To do this, tenants must have working appliances. These include hot water heaters, refrigerators, stoves, and HVAC units — all of which are essential to day-to-day living.
If a rental property owner isn’t meeting their Texas landlord appliance responsibilities and fails to make timely repairs, tenants actually can withhold their rent. They can also repair the appliance themselves and deduct the cost from their rent.
Clearly specifying which appliances are landlord-provided and their maintenance duties in the lease agreement helps avoid confusion and legal disputes.
What Are a Tenant’s Responsibilities When It Comes to Appliance Maintenance?
Tenants are responsible for maintaining appliances provided to them by the landlord. This is done through proper use of the appliances as well as routine cleaning and basic care.
It is important for tenants to understand this. Landlords are not responsible for damage to appliances caused by tenant negligence or misuse.
They can handle minor repairs on appliances only if specified in the lease. Otherwise, tenants are required to report all issues with appliances to the landlord.
Tenants are also required to promptly report major issues to prevent worsening damage from happening to the appliance and the rental property as a whole.
How Can a Property Management Team Help?
One of the most challenging aspects of being a landlord is running the day-to-day operations of the business. Whether you own one rental property or 10, creating processes for maintenance requests and handling them in a timely manner can be extremely tough.
That’s why hiring an experienced local property management company such as 1836 Property Management is a good idea.
We have systems and strategies in place to manage all tenant maintenance requests promptly, ensuring legal compliance with all Texas landlord appliance responsibilities and protecting both the rental property and the tenants.
Our team members are thoroughly knowledgeable about Texas rental compliance, which allows us to offer top-notch support to both our landlord clients and their tenants.
Let 1836 Property Management Handle the Daily Landlord Duties
Owning a rental property is challenging enough. Avoid making it even more difficult and stressful by trying to self-manage your property.
At 1836 Property Management, we have years of experience in managing rental properties in the Austin, Texas, region and a proven track record of helping clients succeed in real estate investing.
We can help ensure that all tenant maintenance requests are handled in a timely manner and according to the law, ensuring that you’re upholding your Texas landlord appliance responsibilities, among other things.
1836 Property Management can be reached at (512) 994-4323. For more information, please contact us today.
