*Synced from Seattle Luxury Rentals Blog
Even
if you live in a rental, the cold, wet weather of winter should prompt
you to do some preventative maintenance on your home, both to limit your
liability for any potential damage from the elements and to keep your
home as comfortable as possible during the winter. Talk with your
landlord, both to make sure they are performing their share of required
maintenance, and also to find out what tasks are your responsibility.
The
Rental Housing Association of Washington has
several tips
regarding what you can do as a renter to minimize damage to your unit
this winter. If your lease requires you to perform yard maintenance,
make sure you’re keeping the area around your foundation clear so excess
moisture doesn’t build up and seep into the home (check with your
landlord before you do anything beyond basic yard cleanup). Bag up
fallen leaves and trim shrubs around the perimeter of your house. But
don’t pull out that ladder just yet, as it should be the owner or
landlord’s responsibility to make sure roofs are sound and gutters are
draining correctly.
It is often the tenant’s responsibility to make sure smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors are working, and during the season when more people
are using their heat and having fires, it’s important to make sure these
are operating correctly. Check your lease to determine if this is
something you need to keep an eye on.
Especially in damp climates like ours in the Northwest, it’s
important to pay attention to moisture levels inside your home, as well
as outside. In the winter, when you’re more likely to have all your
windows and doors closed, keep indoor air dry and circulating with fans,
or occasionally crack a window to let some fresh air in. If you haven’t
turned your heaters on yet, make sure they’re free of dust and move any
belongings away from vents to minimize fire risk.
These tips should help ensure that you have a warm and uneventful
winter in your rental! If you are interested in finding a rental
property in Seattle, contact your
local real estate agent today.
