The Toilet is Overflowing…What Do I Do????

When you lease an apartment, chances are you are paying for routine maintenance of your apartment as part of the monthly rent. That means that if something in the apartment breaks, you can make a call to your landlord or complex manager, and your problem will be fixed.

What’s covered in basic apartment maintenance?

In the simplest of terms, anything that is in the apartment when you move in is probably covered. That means the air conditioning and heat, the water and your appliances are all covered by general apartment maintenance. Plumbing is also covered, so if the toilet gets clogged up or overflows, chances are there’s a maintenance person to fix it. If the carpet gets ruined in the process, the carpet would be covered, as well.

Some things may not be covered by your apartment maintenance. When you sign your lease, be sure to review the exclusions that will explain these items.

If you lose your keys or lock yourself out of your apartment, you may be able to get someone from the maintenance team to open your door for you, but you also may get a bill for the privilege. If you lose your keys, you can expect to be charged to have new keys made and the locks on your door changed.

If guys playing ball in the courtyard break your window accidentally, the cost of repairing the window may or may not be covered by your maintenance fees. Sure, you can try to recoup the amount from the ball players, but you may find yourself stuck for the repairs.

Renters insurance is a good idea for anyone who rents an off campus apartment. Rates are usually very reasonable. Deductibles – the amount you must pay if you need to use the insurance – can be relatively low. Renters insurance would kick in to cover the cost of a broken window or new locks if maintenance did not cover it.

Renters insurance also insures your valuables against theft, so it’s a good idea to buy it whenever you rent.