Issue link: https://nest.uberflip.com/i/1295167
Sooner or later, most renters will face a problem in their home that requires them to contact their landlord and request a repair or main- tenance. Certain issues, if dire, are considered emergency repairs. What's the differ- ence between an emergency repair and regular old maintenance, though? This question causes a lot of confusion, and is particularly important to understand in the era of COVID 19, when you might be leery of allowing repairmen into your home unless it's absolutely necessary. So before you panic over a drippy faucet or broken AC, here's how to de- termine whether you're dealing with a standard maintenance request or a serious emergency repair. Emergency repair vs. maintenance request: What's the difference? Maintenance requests are a headache, but they're prob- lems that don't pose serious threats to ten- ants—think a cracked floor tile or a broken dishwasher. Emergency repairs, however, directly affect the safety and habitability of a specific unit or building, such as a gas leak, burst pipe, or black mold. While some repairs may seem like an emergency, it may surprise renters and homeowners that unless an issue puts them in danger, it's most likely just a regu- lar maintenance request. Landlords and service providers must prioritize problems that can actually cause harm. For example, an emergency repair is re- quired if a roof starts leaking. However, a broken microwave or a few miss- ing shingles will probably be classified as a normal maintenance request, which can be dealt with within a few days or weeks, de- pending on the severity of the problem.