Property Management – Sherman Oaks

How Do I Know When to Contact Apartment Management?

Problems arise in day-to-day life, and it can be tough to know which ones require a call to your apartment manager and which you can handle on your own. Though you’ll have to weigh the specifics of each situation as it arises, there are some general rules to help you decide. Here are some questions to help you determine when to call for help:

Could this impact other units? When you’re in a building with other units, some problems are likely to be shared—and more likely if you wait too long to take action. For example, if you’ve got ants or think you’ve seen mice in your apartment, those pests are likely traveling into other areas of the building. Your building management needs to know.

Could the problem cause damage to the building? A dripping pipe under the sink might not be much of a nuisance, but that slow leak could cause a variety of other problems, including a build-up of mold, moisture leaking into the walls, under floors or into another apartment, and even structural damage. If there’s a chance of such damage occurring, let management know right away.

Does the item that needs fixing belong to the landlord? Most leases don’t allow you to make modifications to the apartment without permission. So, if your wall-mounted bathroom cabinet breaks or the bathroom tiles are coming up, you probably aren’t permitted to replace those things on your own. Contact your apartment manager when those issues arise.

Are you unable to resolve the situation on your own? While it’s usually best to try to resolve a conflict with a neighbor on your own, don’t let a situation escalate out of control. If you’re dealing with an ongoing noise problem and polite conversation hasn’t made a change or you keep finding a neighbor’s guests parked in your assigned space despite repeated friendly reminders, reach out for help before the conflict grows.

Use your best judgment when problems arise.  But, when in doubt, check in with management. Make sure you know the terms of your lease and any specific issues you’re required to report. And, any time that the landlord, another tenant or someone else’s property may be affected, be sure to get help before the problem worsens.

Posted by Tiffany Sanders in Landlord & Lease Issues