3 Tips To Prevent Sewer Or Septic Issues In Your Rental Property
One type of repair issue that you might worry about as a landlord is sewer or septic repairs. As you might already know, problems with sewer or septic systems can be very messy and also very expensive. The best thing that you can do is attempt to prevent these issues from being a problem in the first place. These tips can help you a lot with this.
1. Make Sure the Sewer or Septic System is in Good Shape
First, before any tenants even more into your property, you may want to have a sewer line inspection done. This is particularly important if you have not had this done in a few years or if you have had even minor problems with the system in the past. With a sewer line inspection, you can look for problems that can be addressed before a tenant ever moves in and before a major problem is ever an issue. Additionally, if the property has a septic tank, you should have that tank pumped if needed. Then, if the system is used properly, it should be a long time before you have to worry about a septic issue.
2. Make Sure the Sewer System Can Keep Up With the Number of Tenants
Next, you should make sure that the septic system, if applicable, is big enough to accommodate the number of tenants who will be living in the house. In fact, this is one of many reasons why you should ask potential tenants how many people they will be moving into the rental with them. Then, you can make sure that a large family will not be living in a rental property that only has a small septic tank.
3. Talk to Your Tenants About Proper Use of Household Plumbing
Since your tenants might have never been homeowners before, there is a chance that they might not really understand how to take care of a household sewer or septic system. Let them know about things that they shouldn't do in regards to using the plumbing, such as flushing feminine products or paper towels down the toilet. Talk to them about these things, and notate your requests about household plumbing use in your lease to protect your property.
Sewer or septic issues with a rental property can be a major hassle. Luckily, you can prevent these major issues by following the tips above. If you do have a problem, working with a sewer line inspection company can help you find and address the issue as soon as possible.