Office of Off-Campus Affairs
Maintaining the Inside of a Home
Calling the Landlord
- Some situations are emergencies and need immediate attention from the maintenance staff. Failure to report major difficulties can result in unnecessary damages, large bills and charges, and unsafe conditions.
- When in doubt about a situation, call the landlord or property manager. They will advise how to best solve the problem.
- If you smell gas inside or outside your home, immediately call the gas company and then your landlord. The emergency 24-hour number to report gas leaks is 523-5050.
Minor Repairs
- Not every minor repair needs the attention of your landlord.
- If you know how to do a few simple things, you can avoid waiting on them to fix the little things and allow them just to worry about any major repairs you might need.
- Check with the landlord about this practice.
Some Items You Might Attempt Yourself
- Know where the breaker/fuse box is and how to reset/change it.
- Know how to plunge a toilet—you need a plunger in your apartment. If one isn’t provided, you should purchase one.
- Don't let a toilet continue running—jiggle the handle to make it stop.
- Know how to turn the water off at the base of the toilet to stop overflowing.
- Change light bulbs that are easily accessible.
- Always use the correct wattage bulbs.
- This information should be on the light fixture.
- Using a bulb with a higher wattage is a fire hazard.
- Consider energy saving bulbs.
- Know how to turn off the main water valve to the house in case a pipe breaks. Ask the landlord where the main valve is located.
