If you want to rent your property (such as an apartment for instance) it is imperative that you take the trouble to understand the relevant housing regulations in your area.

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Not doing so may lead to problems in the long run, and you might have to pay stiff fines levied by the building regulation control authorities in your area. Let us check and see what you can do in order to ensure that your rental apartments meet all relevant rules and regulations enforced in the area of residence:

Conduct all Necessary Repairs

A landlord (the actual owner of rental property) bears the responsibility of ensuring that his apartment is in perfect habitable condition. This means that he has to make good and sure that all repairs have been conducted adequately. In other words, he has to make sure that he has done everything that might be considered to be reasonably necessary to help keep the rental apartment in a condition good enough to live in. For example, if there is a roof leak, it would be a very good idea to make the repair. Not doing so will mean that the apartment is not in a condition to accommodate tenants. However, there is no need to replace the entire roof of the place because of one small leaking area. This is because that would not come under the reasonable or necessary repair heading.

Provide Trash Receptacles for the Tenants

It is the responsibility of the property owner to provide the appropriate garbage bins, cans, or even recycling trash holders for debris. Furthermore, all of these bins should be adequately equipped for safe storage of the trash until it is removed. Here, the overall size of the bins, as well as the total number of the bins, must be adequate for the total number of rental apartments or any other property.  Finally, it is the responsibility of the property owner (in many areas) to handle garbage disposal properly.  They can either do the job on their own and remove it from the bins to the recycling or disposal plant or hire someone also to do the needful. 

Ensure the Continuous Supply of Running Water

In many areas, there exist laws known as landlord-tenant acts. As per these laws, it is the responsibility of the property owner to provide the tenants with a continuous supply of fresh and clean running water. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the proprietor to provide adequate heat in case the area is bitterly cold. Apart from that, the proprietor of the property will also be responsible for air conditioning in the warm months (this only applies in case the unit has been equipped with a central air conditioning system) as well as hot water. However, this may not apply in apartments where all utilities are directly installed and it is possible to control them from the apartment itself. This includes apartment blocks where the individual units are connected directly to any public utility, located close by the residential locality. 

Partnering with a Property Management Company 

If you have a lot of properties or if you have just purchased an apartment for the creation of a rental income stream, it would be a good idea to partner with a property management company. Such a company or firm will advise you on how to refrain from violating housing regulations and laws. Many such companies are available both online and offline, to help satisfy all your queries regarding any legal issues about your rights and responsibilities as a property owner. Here it is very important to understand that due to the varying nature of property owner duties, it is a very good idea to first and foremost consult your local area property management consultants. This way, you will be in a better position to understand all local, regional, state, and federal laws regarding rental properties in your area. 

Conclusion 

All landlords have certain responsibilities towards their rental properties. They have to make sure their apartments are habitable and there is a continuous supply of fresh hot and cold water, electricity, and other utilities. It would be a good idea to hire the services of property consultants if you are not sure about your rights and obligations towards your rental premises.