Key Features
- Describes needed repair. Summary of what is broken and the needed repairs.
- Grants permission to enter. Tenant must provide consent for landlord to enter premises when they are not there.
- Creates written record. Can provide legal protection for landlord, or legal basis for tenant claim.
- Provides tenant/landlord contact. Includes best contact method for both parties.
How to Make a Repair Request
Whether it’s for commercial or residential tenants, the form should answer several important questions:
- Who is the tenant?
- How can the tenant be reached?
- Which dwelling or unit is the problem located in?
- What needs to be repaired?
- When and how was the problem discovered?
- Is the problem urgent?
- How does a tenant submit the form?
Where and how the tenant can submit their completed form should always be clearly spelled out. If hard copies will be returned, a location is necessary. If photos or digital copies will be returned, a phone number or email address should be provided.
What are the Landlord’s Responsibilities?
Under state laws, landlords are obligated to provide repairs for their tenants within a specified timeframe. The types of issues can typically be classified under three categories, which have different repair deadlines for the landlord.[1]
Immediately hazardous conditions, which typically must be fixed within 24 hours, include:
- Broken sink or toilet
- No hot water or heat during winter season
- No guards in windows (if there are minors)
- No lock on entrance door
Hazardous conditions, which typically must be fixed within 30 days, include:
- Bedbug, roach, or mice infestation
- Mold or water leak on ceiling or wall
- Defective lock or knob on entrance door
Non-hazardous conditions, which typically must be fixed within 60 days, include:
- Peeling paint or plaster on walls
- Missing apartment number on door
- Refrigerator leaking water
What Happens if Landlord Doesn’t Provide Repairs?