Issue link: https://nest.uberflip.com/i/1295167
What usually counts as an emergency repair As a rule of thumb, the issues listed below are almost always classified as emergen- cies, however, the only way to be certain is to check with your city and state's govern- ment regulations. • Sewage backup: If your sewer line backs up and causes flooding on your property, this is considered an emergency, as it may cause lasting damage. • No running water: If you have no water, or murky water, an emergency repair is gen- erally required to restore your clean water supply. • Overflowing toilets: Not only are toilets essential to the home, but an overflowing toilet can be unsanitary and cause flood- ing with wastewater. • Gas leaks: Gas leaks pose a serious, life- threatening risk to tenants, which is why they require immediate attention. Call your local authorities if you suspect a gas leak in your property. It's important to reach out directly to the specialists in this case right away. By calling the property manager that is what they are going to tell you to do and then you have wasted that time. Obviously the same with fire—call the fire department right away—not the property manager. They should be your second call. • Electrical outages: If you suffer from an electrical outage that isn't caused by the local power company, this is typically considered an emergency repair. Is no heat or hot water an emergency? So what really constitutes an emergency? An emergency repair needs to be addressed immediately, because it impacts the health of the tenants and safety of the property. It can also be something that, if not addressed immediately, may have a negative impact on the condition of the property. If there is a plumbing leak, it would be crucial to address as soon as pos- sible, to avoid damage to walls, flooring, cabinets, and other areas. An emergency repair might also be related to a home's security. We all know that incidents such as fires, floods, and gas leaks constitute emergen- cies, but a broken door lock is an emergen- cy, too. The reason—if someone can break into your unit, you're no longer safe. Some other emergency examples include windows not opening [as you can't escape] and problems with electrical wiring. It's also worth noting that what constitutes an emergency repair, as opposed to a main- tenance request, varies by state. A broken AC in the summer may constitute an emer- gency for a tenant in Miami, but not usually in Seattle since most homes in the Pacific Northwest do not even come with AC. Con- versely, a broken heater in winter might constitute an emergency in Seattle but not Miami.