Part of independent living is performing regular home maintenance tasks. Unless you own or pay mortgage on your home (which, at your age, is unlikely), you probably rent your home.

If you’re renting for the first time, you may be surprised to know that most maintenance responsibilities are handled by the landlord (whoever owns the property) or the property manager who’s hired to manage the property. That includes things like plumbing, air conditioning/heating, broken appliances, etc. — basically, anything that has to do with the structure of the building or rental unit. In fact, this is probably the best thing about renting!

But that doesn’t mean that, as a renter, you don’t have to do anything to maintain your home. You still have certain responsibilities that ensure your home stays in good condition and remains livable, even after you move out. This includes basic tasks such as regular garden or yard maintenance (such as mowing and watering grass, watering flowers, pulling weeds), as well as removing snow, cleaning gutters, and general cleaning or tidying of the home (such as cleaning bathrooms, mopping floors, etc.).

Why Home Maintenance Matters

Of course, it’s nice to live in a clean home. It affects your mental well-being and even can help you to stay physically healthy (see our “Clean House, Clear Mind” pages). But there are other important reasons to stay on top of home maintenance tasks when you’re renting:

Get your security deposit back

Many property owners in Nevada charge renters security deposits. This is an amount you pay before moving in that helps to protect the property owner in case there’s damage to the property; it ensures they can pay for any repairs that are needed when you move out. Security deposits help the owners recover any losses if any rent was unpaid or if the renter caused damage (besides normal wear and tear), such as making a hole in the wall or causing excessive stains on the carpet. Renters are expected to leave rental units in basically the same condition they found them when they moved in.

However, if you are up to date on your rent and utility bills, leave no damage besides normal wear and tear, return all keys, and adhere to all requirements of the lease, you can receive a refund of your security deposit. 

By maintaining your home while you live there, you help make sure that the rental stays in good condition, improving your chance of receiving your deposit back after you move out.

Prevent serious problems in your home

Just as brushing your teeth every day helps prevent major issues such as cavities, small home-maintenance tasks protect your home against major problems that can permanently damage your home and cost you your security deposit — or even your ability to live in the home. 

For example, renters should plan to replace their air filters for their central air conditioning systems about every three months. The air filter protects your heating and cooling equipment from dust and debris, helping to keep it running at maximum efficiency. If you fail to do this simple task, the system will eventually take on dust and debris, and it will have to work harder to perform. This not only can increase your power bill, but it can cause poor air quality if it’s left too long, and after a long period of time, it could even cause your furnace or air conditioner to shut down completely. 

A little bit of regular home maintenance can go a long way to keeping your home and all its systems running smoothly, and it helps you to be a good tenant.

Basic Home Maintenance Activities

Here are some basic home maintenance activities you should do regularly, or have someone help you do:

• Cleaning, tidying up: This includes sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, cleaning appliances, scrubbing toilets, and washing windows.
• Waste management: Dispose of your garbage (and recycling, if applicable) properly, in area dumpsters or in designated bins, following instructions provided by your landlord/property manager.
• Comply with housing codes and HOA rules: Make sure you follow your rental unit’s local housing codes and homeowner association regulations. Most local municipalities have minimum safety, sanitation, and habitability standards, and many homeowner associations have rules about having garbage cans visible, making sure lawns and visible areas are clean and maintained, etc.
• Report minor issues/repairs: If structural elements (plumbing, electrical system, walls, etc.) or appliances need to be repaired or replaced, contact your landlord or property manager as soon as possible. Minor repairs such as unclogging drains or replacing lightbulbs are your responsibility.
• Optimizing ceiling fan direction: Ceiling fans have angled blades that enable them to blow cool air downward in summer (counterclockwise) and circulate rising warm air in the winter (clockwise). A simple flick of a switch can help you adjust direction, which helps minimize energy usage.
• Cleaning exhaust fan: The exhaust fan over your stovetop removes grease, smoke, steam, and odors from the air as you cook. This debris builds up and eventually can create a fire hazard. Be sure to clean it by turning off and unplugging the fan, removing the filter, and cleaning it with soap and water.
• Drain maintenance: Be sure to run your disposal in your kitchen, or if your home has no disposal, be sure that no food or other solids go down your kitchen sink. And keep an eye on toilets and bathroom sinks to make sure they flush and drain properly. If they start to slow, you may have a clog that needs to be removed. This is usually your responsibility. (However, if simple disposal use or hair clog removal doesn’t correct the issue, you may need to speak to the landlord about more structural plumbing concerns for them to address.) 
• HVAC filter replacement: Be sure to replace the air filters (usually located in the hallway) about every 90 days or so.
• Blind and window care: Windows should be washed and blinds dusted and cleaned regularly.
• Pest inspection/management: It’s your job as a tenant to keep areas clean to prevent pests from being attracted to your home. If you do have pests, it’s usually your responsibility to hire an exterminator. Check with your landlord about whether this is the case for you.
• Appliance maintenance: Be sure to empty dryer vents, clean refrigerators and other appliances, and operate appliances as intended according to user manuals. You may need to perform regular maintenance tasks, such as replacing water filters on refrigerators, etc. 

Renter’s Insurance Can Help

It’s usually a good idea to purchase renter’s insurance, which addresses issues such as thefts, damage to electronics or floors caused by water leaks, smoke damage caused by oven fires, damage caused by electrical short circuits, etc. Some landlords may require you to purchase it as a condition of your lease agreement, and the coverage will vary depending on your home.

Read Your Lease Carefully

Before you sign a lease on a rental property, read it carefully to be sure you understand what’s required of you as a tenant. Regular upkeep is usually expected from renters, and this may be spelled out for you. It usually includes making sure that outdoor spigots are turned off and covered in times of freezing temperatures, to keep pipes from bursting; mowing and watering lawns as necessary; taking proper care of appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers, to make sure they are not overloaded or run improperly and that dryer vents are cleaned regularly. You should expect to return the rental unit in the same condition as when you moved in, apart from normal wear and tear. Clean often, report damages caused by you and your guests, and remove all personal belongings when you eventually move out.

Your lease should also provide details about home emergencies, and response times from landlords, superintendents or property managers, which vary depending on the individual property. It could be within hours, or it could be within a day or two, or even longer. If your lease doesn’t explain the emergency policy, be sure to ask. When you enter into a rental agreement, it’s a good idea to find out the standard policy for emergency repairs, including a number to call at any time of day or night.