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Plumber Tips: Everything You Need To Know About Plumbing As A Landlord | Denton, TX

Plumber Tips: Everything You Need To Know About Plumbing As A Landlord | Denton, TX

Photo By Andy Dean Photography at Shutterstock

Becoming a landlord is exciting and is also an excellent investment. However, you’ll also have a high level of responsibility and require a commitment to become a great landlord. You’ll need to service and maintain your property’s plumbing system to reduce the amount of time your property stays empty and allow you to keep your property marketable. Maintaining the plumbing system also helps maintain your property’s safety and makes it more habitable for tenants.

Often issues can arise between tenants and landlords, and the common question is, ‘who is responsible for maintaining the plumbing system?’ In general, it’s expected that the landlord should provide the tenant with a habitable property, and when things go wrong, it’s up to the landlord to call and pay for a plumber. However, in some cases, the tenant may have to pay if they are responsible for causing the fault, for example, by washing food scraps into the drain.

If you live in Denton, TX, and are searching for a local plumber, don’t hesitate to contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. The company is available for all types of plumbing work, including drain cleaning, leak detection, and water heater repair. They can also install a plumbing system in new builds and provide an emergency call-out service.

If you’re thinking about becoming a landlord, read on. This article will tell you all about the types of plumbing issues that you’re responsible for as a landlord.

Pre-tenancy plumbing maintenance and checklist

Before a new tenant can move into your property, it’s a good idea to check that the plumbing works well. It’s the responsibility of the landlord to find and maintain any faults. You may like to call your local plumber to check that everything’s working effectively. As a landlord, you have a legal responsibility to ensure that your property is safe and in a liveable condition.

Before the tenant moves in, you can check the following yourself or ask a plumbing service to check:

  • Check that the faucets work well and don’t drip or leak.
  • Ensure that the water can drain away correctly in the kitchen and bathroom sinks
  • Look out for any signs of dampness in the bathroom. You may also need to replace seals on the bath or shower.
  • If your property has metal pipes, lookout for corrosion.
  • Check the gutters and drain and look for blockages or obstacles. You may also like to book a plumber for a drain cleaning service.
  • Check that your boiler or water heater is working correctly.
  • Look at and test the radiators; pay particular attention to fittings and valves.
  • If you’re planning to rent to a disabled tenant, you may need to make some adjustments, such as installing handrails in the bathroom.

Having a plumber inspect your property will ensure that it is safe and habitable for your tenants and allow any plumbing issues to be detected early. This will mean that you’re able to fix the problems before they become more severe and expensive.

Moving the tenant in

When you move the tenant into your property, it’s a wise idea to show them around and give them some phone numbers that they can call in the event of an emergency. Give them a number for your local plumbing professional, who can be contacted 24/7 if there’s an emergency. Also, provide detailed instructions on how to turn off your property’s mains water supply, how to reset the water heater and how to turn off the gas supply.

It’s also wise to explain that flushing items down the toilets or washing food down the drains can cause blockages. You should tell your tenant that if a blockage occurs in the drains, pipes, toilets, or sinks that has happened due to misuse, it will be their responsibility to pay for a plumber and have the issue fixed. You can include this information in a tenancy agreement and make up an information pack for them. Alternatively, you can communicate this information verbally.

Who’s responsible for plumbing repairs?

Once a tenant has been moved into your property, the responsibility for any plumbing maintenance or repairs will depend on the type of repair needed and the reason the plumbing system is faulty. Generally, if the tenant has caused damage due to misuse of the plumbing system, they will have to pay the bill.

On the other hand, if the fault has been caused by general wear and tear, the landlord should pay the plumber. When a tenant contacts you and tells you there’s a plumbing issue, it’s good practice to tell them when to expect the repair to be made by. All faults should be fixed within a reasonable space of time to keep the property habitable.

Urgent repairs such as a blocked toilet, flooding, or burst water mains will need to be fixed within 24 hours if possible. This should include all plumbing faults that are likely to make the property unsafe for the tenant to continue living there.

Any non-urgent repairs caused by wear and tear and that the landlord has agreed to pay for should be fixed within fourteen days. Examples of non-urgent repairs include issues such as leaking taps or blocked drains. It’s worth noting that non-urgent repairs may get worse the longer they are left. A blocked drain could become more clogged over time and could flood the property, for example. It’s a wise idea to call a plumber as soon as possible rather than waiting.

bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, Plumber Denton, TX

Are you looking for an efficient and on-time local plumber? If you live in Denton, TX, you may like to contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. The company employs a team of highly skilled tradespeople for all your plumbing needs. bluefrog Plumbing + Drain is a BBB-rated business that’s passionate about serving your local community and has thousands of happy customers.

Don’t hesitate to contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of North Dallas at 469-573-2535 to see what the team can do for you!

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