Structural damage can happen to any vacant rental property. The longer a property remains vacant, the greater the chance for structural damage. Numerous things can go wrong, and every landlord or property owner should be aware of these risks in order to keep their premises maintained for the longest time.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the most common structural issues that can occur with vacant rental property and ways to overcome them.
Table of Contents
Water Leak Damage
This is one of the most common problems in rental properties, especially vacant ones. This is because there is no one to report the leaks in the first place. Unfortunately, this leads to widening the leaks, worsening the issue.
To prevent water damage, you must check the property every few months. Look for any visible leaks and fix them as soon as possible. If you can’t do it yourself, consider connecting with a property manager in Fresno to take care of this for you.
Mold Growth
When people live in a place, they ensure that there is no mold growth with proper cleaning. However, a property that’s vacant for long without proper maintenance becomes highly susceptible to mold growth. This can be a serious and expensive problem and must be dealt with immediately to keep any further damage at bay.
Here are a few steps you can take:
- Hire a mold testing company to test the property and let you know about any hidden mold growth.
- Cut off the water supply to prevent moisture in the vacant space.
- Fix any leaks to stop water from accumulating in the walls.
- Remove all the porous material that may have mold (carpets, curtains, etc.).
Insect Infestation
Insects are quick to invade a vacant property. As the property’s vacant for long, it gives enough time for the pests to breed. Furthermore, termites can eat off the furniture, or worse all that will be left is – nothing!
Before that happened, this is what you can do:
- Hire professionals to handle the issue. If you want to stay at the site when the professionals do their job, watch out for insecticides. They are quite harmful, so take safety measures (i.e., wear protective clothing, don’t stay on the property for a long time, etc.)
- Ensure timely cleaning of your property.
- Keep the windows slightly open to ensure the rooms aren’t damp enough to become a breeding place for some pests like bed bugs (they hate sunlight).
Electrical Damage
Short circuits can happen if the vacant apartment’s circuit breaker is still on. Sometimes, wires can be short due to high current flow in them. This may burn the wires, damage the walls, and in some cases, also lead to fires.
To avoid all of it, try to have the circuit breaker off when the property’s vacant for long.
Here are some other steps you can take:
- Install cameras (temporarily) inside your property to ensure you know what’s happening when no one is there.
- Have an electrician’s contact ready to address any immediate issues you spot through your cameras.
- If possible, turn off the main circuit breaker that supplies power to the property.
Broken Windows
If your windows are not tightly closed, they may become easy entrances for burglars and thieves. Even birds or animals can break window glasses. Regular inspection of the windows will help you get around this problem.
To be double safe, install sturdy locks on your windows and doors. Also, check the oiling of the windows. If the hinges have too much friction, they can get worn out permanently.
Staircase Damage
Most of the time, staircases are made of wood or metal. When left unattended, they can get rusted and damaged by moisture. Sometimes, this damage cannot be seen easily.
Here are some important steps to take:
- Inspect your staircase often.
- Use a moisture meter to check the walls and dry any dampness immediately.
- Let professionals deal with broken staircases.
Final Word
A vacant rental property is prone to many issues. We have listed the most common ones above. We hope you’ll be able to identify and resolve these issues before you decide to rent the property out. Happy renting!
