The average cost of homeownership in the U.S. is now $18,118 yearly. In Florida, that goes up to $19,182. These "hidden" expenses include home insurance, property taxes, utilities, and property maintenance.
If you're about to become a landlord in Melbourne, FL, that news may have made you wonder if you'll be the only one responsible for property maintenance.
The answer is no. Your soon-to-be renters will have maintenance-related tenant obligations, too.
Keep reading to learn more about legal and optional tenant property duties in Melbourne, FL.
Tenants' Legal Property Maintenance Duties
Chapter 83, Part II of the Florida Statutes governs legal landlord and tenant responsibilities in Melbourne, FL. Under this, renters must comply with rental maintenance rules, including the following, at all times:
- Building, housing, and health codes
- Maintain the dwelling's clean and sanitary conditions
- Use the property's electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems in a reasonable manner
- Use the rental unit's amenities, utilities, facilities, and appliances reasonably
- Dispose of garbage and waste properly
- Maintain the cleanliness of plumbing fixtures and keep them in repair
In addition, tenants must never intentionally deface, damage, or destroy any part of the rented dwelling or let anyone else do so. They must also tell you about problems you must fix (e.g., a roof leak or a faulty HVAC unit) within a reasonable timeframe.
Lastly, tenants must let you enter the unit during emergencies and scheduled property inspections. For the latter, ensure you get their prior consent by giving them a notice in advance. Usually, a 24-hour advanced notice is okay, but to be sure, notify them at least a few days before the inspection.
Tenants' Optional Property Maintenance Tasks
The law doesn't require tenants to perform "optional" responsibilities. However, you can negotiate these tasks with your renters. To motivate them to do so, offer incentives like small rental fee discounts, grocery gift cards, upgrades, or a lower security deposit.
Here are some examples of optional tasks you can ask your tenants to do:
- Basic garden or lawn work, such as mowing, raking, and pruning overgrown shrubs
- Salting or shoveling snow
- Replacing HVAC filters as needed (usually once every one to three months)
- Checking and keeping the outdoor HVAC unit debris-free
Incentivizing these optional tasks is a win-win situation for you and your tenants. You can enjoy fewer maintenance responsibilities while they can save money on rent or groceries. Such beneficial partnerships can also make your tenants more likely to stay long-term and renew their lease.
Simplify Property Maintenance With PMI Space Coast's Help
Remember: It's not just you, the landlord, who must do everything to keep your Melbourne, FL, property in top condition. Renters also have property maintenance duties. They must keep the dwelling and its contents clean, sanitary, and defect-free.
If you can't attend to all your obligations as a landlord, our property management company, PMI Space Coast, can take over them for you. Our full-service solutions include maintenance, marketing, tenant placement, rent collection, accounting, and more. We're also a proud franchisee of PMI, the nation's largest property management company managing over $5 billion worth of assets.
So, contact us today for a free consultation and learn more about our solutions!
