Property management companies work with landlords to make sure that maintenance issues are addressed and resolved if they arise. This blog is now meant to be a conversation for landlords in particular, whether or not they work with a property maintenance company or not. Buffalo, Kenmore, Tonawanda, and many other areas have a lot of doubles and multi-unit properties which makes maintenance SUPER important because it affects everyone.
You always have to be prepared, because your tenants rely on you to make sure their living standards are up to par in terms of their utilities, utilities of which they pay a lot of money. Landlords have an important job when it comes to maintenance, and we want to expand on that.
In this blog, we will run through several sewer and drain-cleaning tips and circumstances that landlords should know to prevent tenant issues.
Why Drain and Sewer Maintenance Matters for Landlords
For landlords, plumbing issues can quickly become a major inconvenience if they aren’t handled properly. Not being proactive can mean expensive repair costs, tenant disputes, and potentially legal problems. From the actual utility perspective, you’ll see a lot of sewer backups, clogged drains, and water systems failing, which will cause property damage and disrupt tenant satisfaction.
At the end of the day, you need to keep up on maintaining the living spaces in order to keep tenants around and hope that they renew their leases. Tenants can accept something like a noise complaint now and then, but chronic unresolved maintenance issues could be perceived as a threat to your tenants’ safety. You can have expectations with your tenants to avoid potential sewer & drain issues, but you need to be clear and proactive.
Some Legal Implications of Why It Matters
We note legal issues. Under New York state law, landlords are required to maintain safe and livable conditions, including properly functioning plumbing systems. They call this the warranty of habitability (Real Property Law § 235-b), which means essential systems like drains, sewers, and water supply must always be in working order.
Most of the issues within the law include water leaks or floods, having no hot water, no heat, and if you had problems with your pipes. Most of this is documented on the official New York government website, and we recommend you give it a read.
How Landlords Can Prepare for Any Drain and Sewer Issues
Your goal as a landlord should be to educate your tenants on what they need to know and set clear expectations. Outlining proper care and maintenance of the plumbing system should certainly be outlined in your tenant’s lease. Prevention and proactivity should be outlined to avoid the following, which can be easily avoided mishaps.
- Don’t pour anything that can block the pipe or leave a sticky coating that stops water from draining (examples such as oil, grease, fats, or something like coffee grounds)
- Avoid flushing anything that picks up additional waste, like wipes, paper towels, or other hygiene products
Scheduling Checkups and Final Disclaimer
One of the last things we want to mention is regarding scheduling routine checkups. Every few months, it’s a good idea to schedule a routine camera inspection to make sure nothing is blocking your drain or sewer. It’s no different from any other situation that would require a routine inspection. By checking the pathway of the sewer semi-regularly, you offer the best chance of avoiding an issue in the future.
We want to be able to identify any early signs of buildup and blockage in your drains to stop it at the source quickly. A small problem can sometimes be shrugged off as not that big of a deal, but that’s not the right way to go about it. All problems, no matter the size, must be addressed. A slower drain than normal can quickly turn into a full sewer backup.
Annual inspections are recommended, especially for older properties that don’t have much to work with. When it comes to tenants, if you aren’t thorough in your rules and regulations about plumbing, you can end up with some serious problems with your property. If you do, know that we can help.
Advanced Sewer & Drain Cleaning takes pride in providing affordable solutions to your plumbing problems. Don’t wait long to address a utility issue. If you or your tenant sees anything that might not be normal for what you’re used to, reach out to us immediately. If you have any questions, reach out through our contact form!