Home Maintenance

Do these actions in order

1. ACTION 1Walk through ordinary areas and list the things you use: sink, toilet, refrigerator, heating or cooling, and alarms. You are making a list, not opening equipment.
   I’m stuck — help with this action

   Your next small step

   Walk through ordinary areas and list the things you use: sink, toilet, refrigerator, heating or cooling, and alarms. You are making a list, not opening equipment.

   Get ready

   Ask the landlord, residence-hall desk, household adult, or property manager.

   • Your rental agreement or home records.
   • A phone or notebook for observations from a safe location.
   • Manuals or accessible model names for equipment you use.

   Make it manageable

   1. Find the office, website, document, or person named above.
   2. Work on this one action. If it needs a response, write down who you contacted and when.
   3. Check the result below before checking off the action. Pause and ask if a requirement is unclear.

   What finished looks like

   You have a responsibility list and know how to reach repair help.

   Words explained

   “Requirement” means something you must provide or do. “Deadline” means the last date or time to complete it. “Follow up” means checking what happens next after your first contact.

   What you can say

   Which tasks should I do myself?

   Choose a call or message script

   Where to get more help

   If you cannot identify equipment or safely reach it, record the location and ask for help. For an unresolved rental repair, use local tenant-support resources to understand the next appropriate step rather than assuming you should fix it or withhold payment.

   Smoke alarm basics (U.S. Fire Administration) · Read the testing guidance and use your own alarm’s instructions.

   Tenant help by state (USAGov) · Find local help when you cannot resolve a rental responsibility or repair question.

2. ACTION 2Beside each item write who handles routine care and who handles repairs. Renters should check their agreement and ask before attempting work.
   I’m stuck — help with this action

   Your next small step

   Beside each item write who handles routine care and who handles repairs. Renters should check their agreement and ask before attempting work.

   Get ready

   Ask the landlord, residence-hall desk, household adult, or property manager.

   • Your rental agreement or home records.
   • A phone or notebook for observations from a safe location.
   • Manuals or accessible model names for equipment you use.

   Make it manageable

   1. Find the office, website, document, or person named above.
   2. Work on this one action. If it needs a response, write down who you contacted and when.
   3. Check the result below before checking off the action. Pause and ask if a requirement is unclear.

   What finished looks like

   You have a responsibility list and know how to reach repair help.

   Words explained

   “Requirement” means something you must provide or do. “Deadline” means the last date or time to complete it. “Follow up” means checking what happens next after your first contact.

   What you can say

   Which tasks should I do myself?

   Choose a call or message script

   Where to get more help

   If you cannot identify equipment or safely reach it, record the location and ask for help. For an unresolved rental repair, use local tenant-support resources to understand the next appropriate step rather than assuming you should fix it or withhold payment.

   Smoke alarm basics (U.S. Fire Administration) · Read the testing guidance and use your own alarm’s instructions.

   Tenant help by state (USAGov) · Find local help when you cannot resolve a rental responsibility or repair question.

3. ACTION 3Save the normal repair contact and the separate urgent contact. Ask what the property treats as an emergency and where its written instructions are kept.
   I’m stuck — help with this action

   Your next small step

   Save the normal repair contact and the separate urgent contact. Ask what the property treats as an emergency and where its written instructions are kept.

   Get ready

   Ask the landlord, residence-hall desk, household adult, or property manager.

   • Your rental agreement or home records.
   • A phone or notebook for observations from a safe location.
   • Manuals or accessible model names for equipment you use.

   Make it manageable

   1. Find the office, website, document, or person named above.
   2. Work on this one action. If it needs a response, write down who you contacted and when.
   3. Check the result below before checking off the action. Pause and ask if a requirement is unclear.

   What finished looks like

   You have a responsibility list and know how to reach repair help.

   Words explained

   “Requirement” means something you must provide or do. “Deadline” means the last date or time to complete it. “Follow up” means checking what happens next after your first contact.

   What you can say

   Which tasks should I do myself?

   Choose a call or message script

   Where to get more help

   If you cannot identify equipment or safely reach it, record the location and ask for help. For an unresolved rental repair, use local tenant-support resources to understand the next appropriate step rather than assuming you should fix it or withhold payment.

   Smoke alarm basics (U.S. Fire Administration) · Read the testing guidance and use your own alarm’s instructions.

   Tenant help by state (USAGov) · Find local help when you cannot resolve a rental responsibility or repair question.

You are ready to move on whenYou have a responsibility list and know how to reach repair help.