Give the landlord a break: Report fix-it problems right away

Maintaining good relations between tenants and landlords can be maddening.

How can you avoid walking the tension high wire? By noticing maintenance issues that crop up and reporting them before serious damage or danger takes root. Communicating clearly to the landlord about repairs in writing is always a good idea.

What types of problems should you typically watch for?

Start with your smoke alarms. Is yours chirping? Don’t just yank the offending noisemaker from the ceiling or remove the batteries to quiet things down. Smoke alarms often make a chirping sound every few minutes as they get closer to their last draw of power. Noisy alarms are a sign of trouble, and letting the landlord know is vital.

Something smelly in the air? Strange odors are always a concern. Odors can be caused by anything from a backed-up sewer to a deceased rodent behind a wall. If you smell something out of the ordinary, don’t go hunting for the source. Let the landlord or his or her crew work on the problem.

Wall or ceiling discoloration is also a concern. Several things can cause paint changes, including mold, mildew and water seepage. Always report peeling paint to the owner, and avoid tampering with the loose pieces. Peeling paint has various causes, including excess moisture in the room and poor paint preparation. Ceiling leaks are often the result of roof problems, which the landlord should be made aware of immediately.

Also to keep in mind:

Electrical. Never overload light fixtures with higher-than-recommended wattage bulbs, such as 100-watt bulbs in 60-watt fixtures. Wattage errors are easy to spot -- the base may be melted or a black area may surround the fixture. Don’t play Russian roulette if the fixture is damaged; report it promptly.

Plumbing. Because every rental has some sort of running water in the place, it’s the most common source of problems. Dripping faucets are to be noted. Also, don’t over-tighten the faucet when it starts to drip. An overly tightened faucet can strip the underlying cartridge and cause more damage than a simple rubber change-out. A toilet that runs nonstop may seem like a small problem, but the amount of water wasted is vast. Report it to the landlord.

Clogged drains should be reported quickly as well. Left unreported, a clog can get tighter and deeper into the plumbing line, and thus run up the bill when it’s finally taken care of. Garbage disposals left unused or with standing water can rust out and require replacement. Using drain cleaners may seem like a quick fix, but they can corrode and damage the plumbing system, causing more trouble. Replacing pipes may not be your problem, but the hassle, noise and inconvenience of fixing them may be laid at your doorstep if the system needs attention.

Appliances. Has the shelf cracked on the refrigerator or the knob popped off the stove? If it’s your fault, find a replacement part. If professional help is needed, offer to split the cost with your landlord.

Doors and windows that stick. Doors and windows sometimes swell when the weather changes. If the door is always sticking, rain or shine, that may be a job for a handyman. Alert the landlord.

Sliding doors often accumulate dust and debris in the tracks, making them sluggish and risking breakage. Regular vacuuming should keep them on track. If the door continues to stick, don’t ignore it, especially with heavier mirrored doors.

Wobbly locks. Lock screws are usually on the inside portion of the lock; tightening one takes just a minute; getting locked out is a bit more time-consuming. Shaky locks are easy to fix, but let the landlord know if you want to do it yourself.

Whatever the situation, be sure to identify and explain the problem thoroughly. A detailed explanation should be offered in writing, such as “the left side of the master bedroom, by the window, has a brown, dinner plate-sized roof discoloration.” If you write “ceiling has a stain,” the landlord may dismiss the problem without investigating.

Notify the landlord or manager of problems, and avoid hassles and possible danger for both of you in the future.

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