Laws vary from state to state, but in most areas, landlords bear the responsibility for apartment maintenance. While some landlords have the technical skills to do maintenance and repair work on the apartments that they own, others need to hire handymen for apartment maintenance.

A landlord should maintain the following apartment building systems or find a handyman near you to take care of them:

Plumbing

Keep plumbing systems in working order. The handyman hired for apartment maintenance should be called in to clear clogs promptly. More serious plumbing problems should be handled by a licensed plumber.

Windows & Doors

Windows and doors should be unbroken and watertight. A handyman for apartment maintenance should be called in if windows or doors are in disrepair.

Heating

Heat must be in working order. Whether the landlord or the tenant is responsible for the cost of fuel, you'll need to maintain the heating system.

Electrical System

The electrical system in the building or apartment house must be in good and safe working order.

Removal of Trash & Snow

Some handymen hired for apartment maintenance will keep grounds and hallways clean. In some states, things like trash removal and snow removal are the responsibility of the landlord.



Stairways & Floors

Stairways and floors need to be maintained. Broken or loose floorboards or stair treads should be repaired. For minor stairway and floor repairs, you could hire a handyman for apartment maintenance.

Locks

Deadbolts on doors must be present and functional. You'll need to have a locksmith on hand, in addition to your handyman for apartment maintenance, to handle this.

Smoke Detectors

Apartment units must have working smoke detectors. Be sure that tenants are aware that batteries must be changed in smoke detectors, and that smoke detectors should not be tampered with or disabled.

Make sure that the building complies with all local building and housing codes. Be sure to occasionally inspect the work of the handyman who does your apartment maintenance to be sure that it is up to par.

Updated October 29, 2018.