Basic Repairs Your Landlord Have To Do When You Are Moving In
When most people are moving into a new building, they are usually confused as to what to expect. The basic rule is that the place must be in “broom-swept” condition. What this means is that the place must be kept clean. However, you may discover that your apartment needs some repairs to be done or that there are some appliances that are not working. You can get your landlord to do basic repairs. However, note that there are some things that will almost definitely come out of your own pocket.
In this article, you will learn of some basic repairs you should expect your landlord to make when you are moving into a new apartment. Keep on reading to find out more.
Paint
In most cases, the landlord or the building management will paint the apartment before you move in especially if the place is dirty and need some new look. Similarly, if the apartment has been occupied for so long like a year or more, you can negotiate with your landlord to paint it and clean it before you move in. Alternatively, you can offer to paint it yourself and ask the landlord to reimburse you. However, there may not be any need to paint the apartment if the previous tenant has only lived there for less than a year.
Floor
If you are paying a lot of money as rent, there is a good chance that your landlord will refinish or replace worn floors especially if it is too old. Replacing or refinishing the floor is expensive. Thus, most landlords avoid this and don’t see it as part of basic repairs unless the condition of the floor has deteriorated to a great extent. If you want the floor to be replaced, you should be aware that some money may come out of your own pocket.
Appliances
Your landlord is only obligated to give you working appliances and nothing more. Don’t expect that you are going to get something fancy like a Sub Zero fridge or a chef’s stove. You can upgrade if you want with your landlord’s permission of course.
Moving Damage
If in the course of moving your property into the house, the movers damage something such as the door frame, it is your responsibility to fix it and not your landlord’s. Most state laws said that tenants are responsible for moving cost and any damages to the building while moving in.
Windows
If your window is in a rough shape, you can get the landlord to have it fix or cleaned. In this case, the landlord will pay for the cleaning. If the windows are falling apart, the owner will repair it and make it energy efficient especially if he is the one paying for the heat. However, if it is not in a rough shape but you still want it replaced, the money for this will definitely come out of your own pocket.
Air Conditioning
When you want to put in a window air conditioner, don’t expect your landlord to foot the bills. The money will definitely come out of your own pocket. In most cases, the building owner will insist that you install brackets before you move in.
Final Words
In Los Angeles, most landlords will ask a prospective tenant to sign an “as is” clause. This simply means that the tenant agrees to take the apartment in the condition they first saw it or the condition it is in at lease signing. However, some landlord will do some basic repairs for you. It is your duty as a tenant to know what is expected of your landlord and some basic repairs you can do on your own.
