Being a landlord, you must be familiar with the term home inspection, but you must have some confusion or doubts about mandatory repairs. As you know home inspection determines the issue present on the property and helps to rectify those problems.
Thus, if you want to learn “what fixes are mandatory after home inspection” and “what happens if you refuse to repair”. You can go through this article which will give some basic ideas.
Who Verifies Issues on Home Inspection?
A licensed home inspector conducts a thorough inspection of the property. They document every issue, defect, or concern present to make a detailed report. Thus, the verification issues raised in a home inspection are tackled by a landlord or property manager through the following steps:
- Inspection Report Review: The landlord or property manager reviews the inspection report provided by the home inspector.
- Assessment of Issues: Based on the inspection report, the landlord or property manager assesses the severity of any identified issues or repairs that need to be addressed.
- Deciding on Repairs: The landlord decides which repairs, if any, they are willing to undertake before renting out the property. This decision may depend on the seriousness of the issues and local landlord-tenant laws.
- Repair Completion: If the repair of the issue is decided or agreed upon by the landlord, they will arrange for contractors or maintenance personnel to complete the necessary work.
- Verification of Repairs: Once repairs are completed, the landlord or property manager verifies that the repairs have been done satisfactorily. This may involve conducting their own inspection or hiring a third-party inspector to ensure the work meets acceptable standards.
- Disclosure to Tenant: The landlord discloses the inspection results and any repairs made to the potential tenant. This transparency helps set expectations and ensures both parties know the property’s condition before finalizing the rental agreement.
- Documentation: The landlord needs to keep documentation of the inspection report, any repairs made, and the verification process. This documentation can be crucial in case of any disputes or issues that may arise later.
What Fixes Are Mandatory for Landlords to Make?
The fixes that are mandatory for landlords to make depend largely on local laws, regulations, and the terms outlined in the lease agreement. However, landlords must fulfill generally recognized obligations regarding repairs and maintenance to ensure the property is safe and habitable for tenants. Here are some common examples:
- Essential Services: Landlords are generally required to repair essential services such as heating, electricity, and plumbing and ensure they work properly.
- Structural Issues: Landlords are required to repair and maintain structural issues such as walls, roofs, floors, and foundations for better inhabitants.
- Safety Hazards: Landlords must address safety hazards that pose a risk to tenants, such as faulty wiring, broken stairs, unsafe locks, or mold issues that affect health.
- Water and Plumbing: Landlords are responsible for providing tenants with clean and safe water, as well as maintaining plumbing fixtures and systems.
- Pest Control: Landlords are generally responsible for addressing pest infestations that affect the habitability of the property.
- Health and Sanitation: Landlords must ensure that the property meets health and sanitation standards, including proper garbage disposal and adequate ventilation.
- Issues With HVAC System: An HVAC system issue can vary widely depending on the specific problem, such as thermostats, dirty air filters, circuit breakers and power, Vents and Registers, condensate drain line, and so on. Hence, landlords need to look after those problems to fix the issue with the HVAC system.
- Water Damage: Water damages are caused by leaking and flooding which can deteriorate the life span of building. So, landlord need to fix this issue to stop deteriorating the building.
Do You Have to Fix Everything After a Home Inspection Report?
No, it’s not mandatory to fix everything after a home inspection report in Oklahoma. So, you must be wondering, “If Not Mandatory to Repair in Oklahoma: What Could Be Done?” Generally, the extent of repairs or corrections needed depends on several factors:
- Legal Requirements: Landlords are generally obligated to maintain rental properties in a habitable condition as defined by local housing codes and landlord-tenant laws. These laws often specify essential services such as heating, plumbing, electricity, and structural integrity that must be maintained by the landlord.
- Severity of Issues: Not all issues identified in a home inspection report may require immediate attention or fall under the landlord’s responsibility. Some issues may be minor or cosmetic in nature, which may not affect the habitability or safety of the rental unit.
- Lease Agreement Terms: The lease agreement mainly outlines the landlord’s responsibilities regarding maintenance and repairs. It specifies which repairs the landlord is obligated to undertake and which repairs are the tenant’s responsibility.
- Negotiation with Tenants: If serious issues are identified in the home inspection report, landlords have to negotiate with tenants on which repairs will be addressed before the tenant moves in. This negotiation can also involve offering compensation or rent adjustments instead of making repairs.
- Timing and Communication: Landlords should communicate openly with tenants regarding any issues identified in the home inspection report and the timeline for addressing them. Quick communication helps manage tenant expectations and maintain a positive landlord-tenant relationship.
- Professional Advice: Landlords can consult licensed contractors or property managers from OKC Home Realty Services to evaluate repair complexity and cost, aiding decision-making.
What Happens If You Refuse to Make Repairs?
If you refuse to make repairs on the rental property, you have to face legal complications such as:
- Your tenants can sue you according to their tenant’s rights.
- Your tenants can withhold rent or even terminate the lease agreement if necessary repairs are not taken on time.
- You are liable to pay fines or penalties, if you failed for maintaining the property habitable as per local housing codes or landlord-tenant laws.
- You have to compensate the tenant if it is filed complaint through court proceedings.
- Your landlord-tenant relationship gets damaged and leads to negative reviews and potential difficulty in finding new tenants.
- You can face municipal intervention (Local housing authorities or building code enforcement agencies) if complaint is filed against you.
Conclusion
I hope you have got some basic ideas regarding what fixes are mandatory after a home inspection. As you know, it’s not mandatory to repair, however, you just need to fix or repairs those which can keep the property habitable.
And don’t forget that if you refuse to repair, it will lead to serious legal, financial, and reputational consequences.
If you still have any doubts or confusion regarding mandatory repairs after a home inspection, contact OKC Home Realty Services.
FAQs
Do you have to fix everything a home inspector finds?
No, you do not have to fix everything. However, there are some certain essentials you need to fix to make the property habitable.
