Fall Fixes: Warming Up Your Property with Heating Repairs

No matter where you live, it's likely that local laws require you to provide adequate heating for your properties. A failing HVAC system can lead to tenant complaints, and may even result in legal liability. The best way to avoid these outcomes is to address any heating problems before they become critical issues for your tenants.

While it's never too late to fix a problem, fall is often the best time to tackle heating issues on your properties. Whether you own a single building with a handful of units or hundreds of rental units spread across multiple locations, these three reasons are why it's best to address your heating repairs before changing leaves give way to cold, snowy nights.

1. You'll Avoid Legal Hassles

Although laws vary from state to state, nearly every jurisdiction requires that landlords provide their tenants with a livable space. In most cases, this includes providing adequate heating. Since most laws only require your units to maintain a specific temperature or to provide heating during particular months, your legal liability may be lesser during the fall. By repairing problems before the weather turns cold, you will be able to tackle these issues on your own time without your tenants demanding immediate repairs. As long as you address any problems before temperatures drop, you should be able to avoid the legal hassles that may arise from tenant complaints during the winter.

2. You Can Save Money

Unsurprisingly, winter is often the busiest time of the year for most heating technicians. Even worse, a lack of heat during a frigid night may mean making an emergency repair call. Emergency service is often drastically more expensive than a routine appointment, so putting essential repairs off for too long can end up costing you much more than promptly addressing issues. If you usually schedule routine maintenance during the fall, then you can also double-up your repairs with this work. Not only will this potentially reduce your costs, but it also means fewer disruptions for your tenants.

3. Your Tenants Will Be Happier

Ultimately, managing a commercial rental property is about keeping your tenant population as happy as possible. Allowing heating problems to progress into the winter means cold, unhappy tenants who are less likely to stick around and renew their leases. Conducting repairs before the weather turns demonstrates that you are taking a proactive approach to maintenance on your properties.

By scheduling commercial heating repairs before they become critical issues, you can make your life easier, avoid legal troubles, and keep your rental units comfortable throughout the year. If you've been putting off necessary repairs, then it's time to start warming your properties up again.

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