Many leases on Northern Virginia properties contain a list of items a tenant is responsible for taking care of during the time they live in the property. A few examples are:
Lightbulbs
Changing Furnance Filters
Trimming bushes
Cleaning Gutters
Lawn Mowing
Carpet Cleaning
We often also see a repair "deductible" on a lease of $75 or more. Problems arise when the landlord hasn't properly maintained the appliances and they break but want the tenant to pay the deductible.
Recently I asked a landlord when was the last time they had their HVAC system serviced. In the 8 years they've owned the property it's never been serviced. What about the fridge? Has anyone ever changed the water filter cartridge, checked the ice maker line or cleaned the coils? Nope. I got a no to every question I asked about maintenance of the property.
Before you sign a lease on a property make sure you and the landlord are on the same page as to when you should be on the hook for a repair deductible. If you are a landlord make sure you have documentation for any and all previous service to an appliances or the HVAC system ready to be able to show you are turning over a property in 100% working order.
Avoid problems from the very beginning of a lease by documenting everything and put in WRITING any descripencies and how to handle when something major breaks in your property. It's no fun waking up to no hot water on a cold winter day and each party expects the other to handle it.
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