Living off campus comes with more independence, but this also means more responsibility. When something breaks in your apartment or house, it’s not always obvious what you should fix yourself and when you should contact your landlord.
For students living in Ohio University rental housing, knowing how to respond to maintenance issues can help you avoid unnecessary costs, protect your security deposit, and keep your living space safe and comfortable.
Whether you’re living in an apartment near OU or a house in Athens, here’s a quick guide on what to do when something in your student rental goes wrong.
Identifying the Issue: What Can You Fix and What Should be Left to Your Landlord
Not all issues in your apartment should be treated the same. Before you phone your landlord in the middle of the night, you can first assess the situation and check what you could do. Minor and manageable issues are part of normal day-to-day maintenance. These don’t require specialized knowledge or tools to fix.
Examples of these easy-to-resolve issues are the following:
- Replacing light bulbs
- Changing smoke detector batteries
- Tightening loose screws on fixtures
- Unclogging sinks or shower drains
- Resetting tripped circuit breakers
- Fixing squeaky doors and cabinets with WD-40
These issues would take less than 30 minutes to address, so you can usually fix them yourself. Additionally, make sure to keep your unit clean by removing hair or debris in drains and wiping down filters in vents and AC units.
Now, on the other hand, you might encounter problems in your apartment that should best be left to your landlord. Depending on the urgency, you should try to inform your property manager as soon as possible. Also, if you encounter issues that could put your safety at risk, you must contact your landlord immediately.
Contact Your Landlord for Structural Issues, Safety Concerns, and Property Damage
For anything beyond basic fixes, it’s important to notify your landlord or property manager. It might be tempting to fix things yourself, but this can backfire. For most rental companies in Athens, lease agreements would state that tenants must report maintenance issues rather than fix them independently.
If you attempt a major repair by yourself, it can cause you to lose your security deposit and lead to further damage.
This is a list of serious issues that you should leave to your property manager and maintenance personnel to handle:
- Structural issues in your apartment: These aspects of your home require professional repair. Plumbing leaks, burst pipes, electrical issues, and utility problems can’t simply be fixed easily. Whether your heating stopped working or you noticed that several outlets don’t seem to have electricity, you should contact your landlord.
- Health and safety-related problems: Safety issues should be reported immediately, since they could put your health and well-being at risk. If you notice problems like a suspected gas leak, broken door locks, mold growth, or fire hazards, inform your landlord immediately. Do not ignore these issues.
- Broken appliances and property damage: Within your apartment, your landlord may provide certain appliances and fixtures. If something stops working, you can contact your landlord instead of attempting self-repair. Trying to fix appliances like the refrigerator or oven by yourself could lead to further damage and potential charges.
How to Report a Maintenance Issue to Your Athens Rental Company
When contacting your landlord or property manager, be clear and specific. Before you sign your lease, your landlord will likely tell you about how you can report issues.
In your report, you should include a detailed description of the issue, take note of when it started, and attach photos or videos if possible. Responsive rental companies will get back to you within 24 hours.
For urgent problems, you may also use the emergency contact number provided or visit the office to ensure that these issues are addressed.
Responsible Rental Companies in Athens Will Address Issues As Soon As Possible
As a tenant, you should report issues if you’re unsure about how to handle them. If the issue involves repairs and technical knowledge you don’t have, contact your landlord.
When you choose which Athens apartment to live in, check out reviews about how responsive the rental company is. For Kleinpenny Rentals, we do our best to address issues ASAP, because we want to make sure you can live stress-free in your OU off-campus apartment. If you have a problem with your student rental, you can contact us through our maintenance form on our website.