RepairRadar guide
How to coordinate repairs in a shared or rental home
By J&H Technology · Updated
The short answer
Keep one shared list of repairs that everyone can see. Put every request in writing with the date and photos, agree up front who is responsible for what and how costs are split, and decide what counts as an emergency. When the work is done, record the date, the cost and who did it. Tenants and landlords should also follow the lease and local notice rules.
Key points
- One shared list instead of scattered texts.
- Written, dated requests with photos.
- Agree who pays and who arranges each kind of repair.
- Know the emergency plan and where the shut-offs are.
Keep one list everyone can see
Repairs get missed when requests live in different text threads. Keep a single list with each problem, where it is, who reported it, its priority and its status, so everyone knows what is waiting, what is booked and what is done.
Put requests in writing
- Describe the problem, where it is and when it started.
- Add photos or a short video.
- Date the request, and keep the reply.
- Tenants: send requests the way the lease says (for example a portal or email), even if you also mention it in person.
Agree who does what, and who pays
In a shared house, agree in advance how shared costs are split and who books contractors. In a rental, the lease usually says which repairs the tenant handles (such as replacing light bulbs) and which the landlord handles. In most states landlords must keep a rental fit to live in, but the details, including how much notice a landlord must give before entering, vary by state and city. Check your lease and local rules.
Have an emergency plan
- Agree what counts as an emergency: no heat in winter, a burst pipe or active leak, sewage backup, no power, or a security problem such as a broken lock.
- Make sure everyone knows where the main water shut-off and the electrical panel are.
- If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.
- Keep the emergency numbers for the landlord, property manager and key contractors in one place.
Close the loop
When a repair is finished, record the date, the cost, who did it and photos of the result, and tell everyone it's done. A dated history helps settle disagreements about what was reported and when, and helps with deposits at move-out.