What Happens When Water Heaters Break in Rental Homes?
Though it is nice that you do not have to pay for the replacement or repairs, it is a little more difficult to get the task done since you have to talk to the landlord first.
Get to know how to handle when appliances, such as water heaters, stop working.
The first thing to do is try to figure out what went wrong.
This should not require getting out any tools or spending money, since you should not have to spend much time or effort with this step.
Instead, just take a look at the appliance.
Consider whether it is leaking, or simply is not heating as it is supposed to.
This can give you an idea of what to tell both the homeowner and the repair company.
You should then call the landlord to let him or her know that this appliance is not working properly.
Some homeowners are also handymen, so you should give them the opportunity to come take a look at the item before calling a professional.
If your landlord is able to fix it quickly, then the problem is solved.
However, you should not have to go without hot water for long, so make sure you do not agree to wait several days for the owner to make it to the house to do the repairs.
If your landlord cannot fix the issue, it is time to find a company that fixes water heaters.
After all, it is best when a professional solves this problem.
Fortunately, many companies offer a free estimate so you can tell the owner of the house what the total cost will be right before repairs are made.
Just schedule a time for a professional to come out and look at the appliance.
Once you get the quote, you can call the owner of the home to let him or her know what the price will be.
At that time, you will need to arrange payment.
You can pay it out of pocket and either get reimbursed by the homeowner or simply pay less in rent that month.
If you do not have the money upfront, the homeowner should pay for the charges when the repairs are made.
It may be a little more complicated when appliances break in your rental.
But you have some options so you can get the repairs you need without expending too much extra effort.
Just be sure to keep the owner of the house informed along the way.