Owning a rental should feel like easy money, right?
Then you get the middle of the night phone call. A clogged sink. A flooded bathroom. An extremely angry tenant. Suddenly that "easy money" becomes a huge repair bill and a stressful weekend.
Here's the good news...
Believe it or not, most of these horror stories are preventable. By developing just a few good habits, landlords can prevent minor issues from becoming nightmare money pits.
And the best part? You don't need to be a handyman to do it.
Leaks are one of the primary offenders of costly repairs when renting out properties, and pipes are one of the leading causes of leaks. When drains become clogged, water can't go down the drain like it's supposed to, so it heads back up…into your walls. Water damage and leaky pipes lead to frustrated tenants and emergency calls at 3am. Clogs typically happen gradually though — a piece of food, some grease, hair build up — and then BOOM one day your pipes can't handle it and your tenant has got raw sewage backing up into their sink. Preventative drain cleaning is one of the simplest ways you can avoid these nightmares before they happen. If you encounter a clog that you just can't shake, don't hesitate to bring in quality plumbing to clear your drain the right way.
So let's break down the simple steps that keep your rental running smoothly.
What This Guide Covers:
Why Rentals Get Hit With Big Repairs
The Power of Regular Drain Cleaning
Spotting Problems Before They Explode
Easy Rules To Set With Tenants
Booking Routine Plumbing Checks
Why Rentals Get Hit With Big Repairs
Rentals take a beating.
Consider this..... You've got multiple occupants using the sinks, showers and toilets on a daily basis. They may not care about the property like you do. And that right there is where your problems begin.
Tenants dump grease down the kitchen sink. They flush everything but toilet paper. They let a slow drain go until it is completely clogged.
By the time you hear about it, the damage is already done.
The issue is even more dramatic with aging homes. The average age of this country's sewer lines is over 30 years old, causing water backups to become more frequent as these aging systems continue to wear down. Couple old pipes with daily wear and tear, and you're asking for maintenance frustration.
But here's the thing...
Prevention is the key for most of this. Paying attention now will save you tons of money later.
The Power of Regular Drain Cleaning
Drain cleaning might be the most underrated tool in a landlord's toolbox.
Because: Plumbing systems are only as good as their drains. When drains are open and clear, everything runs smoothly and water flows as it should. When drains get clogged, you experience backups, leaks and water damage throughout walls and flooring.
Regular drain cleaning stops all of that.
The most common things that clog up the drains in a rental are:
Hair in the shower and bathtub
Grease and food in the kitchen sink
Soap scum building up over time
Foreign objects flushed down the toilet
Performing one round of drain cleaning in between tenants is recommended. It eliminates unseen buildup and starts your tenancy clean. You can also instruct tenants on a few tips. Such as using a drain trap to catch hair/food before going down the drain.
A quick clean now beats a costly clog later. Every single time.
Spotting Problems Before They Explode
Want to know the secret to cheap repairs?
Catch them early.
Little problems can be cheap to correct. Larger ones tend to not be. That sink that drains slow today could lead to a flooded apartment next week. The key is dealing with things as soon as they seem wrong.
Watch out for these warning signs:
Water draining slower than usual
Gurgling sounds coming from the drains
Bad smells near sinks or toilets
Water pooling around the base of fixtures
These are the little warning signs. If you (or your renters) experience any of these, take action. A minor drain cleaning service call is a lot less expensive than tearing out water stained drywall.
And it's not just about saving money...
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Statistics show that preventive maintenance can reduce breakdown emergencies by 32%. Almost a third of your breakdown headaches disappear - simply by preventing issues before they happen.
Easy Rules To Set With Tenants
Your tenants are your first line of defense.
They reside in the house. They will see and hear things years before you will ever. So having them working for you is game-changing.
One guideline is to keep your rules simple and accessible. Don't overwhelm them with an exhaustive tome that few will crack open.
A few easy rules to share:
Never pour grease or oil down the kitchen sink
Only flush toilet paper — nothing else
Report any slow drains or leaks right away
Use drain covers to catch hair and food
Write your rules in conversational language. If tenants know the reason behind the rules, they will be much more willing to comply.
Make it easy for them to raise problems as well. A simple text message or email should suffice. The sooner they know about it, the sooner (and cheaper) it will be to resolve it.
Booking Routine Plumbing Checks
Here's something a lot of landlords skip...
Scheduled inspections.
Nothing inspires the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality like complacency. And complacency is how small problems become big problems.
A routine plumbing check once a year can catch:
Slow-forming clogs deep inside the pipes
Tiny leaks you'd never notice on your own
Worn-out fixtures that are ready to fail
Tree roots creeping into the sewer line
This is where routine drain cleaning can pay off. A plumber can clear the lines, check pipes, and detect problems before they ever affect your tenant.
Similar to a routine visit to the doctor for your home. A little payment now saves you from a huge expense in the future.
Keeping Your Rental Headache-Free
Preventing major repairs really isn't complicated.
It really just boils down to a few easy lifestyle changes anyone can practice. Let's review once again:
Stay on top of regular drain cleaning
Watch for the early warning signs
Set clear, simple rules for your tenants
Book routine plumbing inspections
Let's face it, repair problems seldom develop overnight. They creep up on you when no one is looking.
So pay attention.
Put forth a little effort today and it will protect your property, please your tenants & save you thousands in the future.
Your rental — and your bank account — will thank you for it.
