A benefit of renting an apartment is that many repairs are under the landlord's responsibility. However, some renters are unsure if their landlords will change their apartments' air filters and light bulbs. We were curious about this, so we researched to find your answers.
Typically, it is the responsibility of the tenant to replace filters and light bulbs in their apartments. Most of the time, the lease agreement will specify who is responsible for maintaining these replacements. Some landlords may supply the air filters themselves.
Keeping up with the responsibilities of being a renter is important to ensure that you are not violating anything from your lease. In this post, we'll talk about some responsibilities as a renter to keep you aware. Keep reading to know more, and enjoy this post!
Do Apartment Complexes Change Air Filters & Light Bulbs?
As a tenant, there are several benefits to simply rent a space. Most of the major repairs and upkeep falls under the landlord's responsibility. This means that as a renter, your responsibility is to report these issues for them to fix.
However, not everything related to maintenance is the responsibility of the landlord. Some repairs and maintenance items should be under the renter's responsibility, especially things they regularly use. This is because a landlord cannot control how tenants consume and use these items.
One of the tenant'sresponsibilities is to change their air filter and light bulbs. Typically, the landlord will outline these in the lease agreement to ensure that the tenant knows what they have to maintain themselves.
If the renter has access to the HVAC system, the renters should be responsible for changing the air filters themselves. As a tenant, you should check your lease agreement on who is responsible for the air filters. Some tenants may even provide a few filters as a courtesy to new tenants.
In some cases, the landlords may prefer to change the filters themselves to prevent damage to the system. But these cases are rarer, so it's always best to check the agreement.
Regarding light bulbs, there are two different cases to consider. For common areas in the apartment complex, like hallways and stairwells, the landlord must change them when they go out. This is because these common areas are all shared by the tenants.
Inside the apartment, however, changing the light bulbs is the tenant's responsibility. The landlord has no control over how the renters use their lights, so this becomes their responsibility. Changing the light bulbs is also easier than waiting for the landlord to do it for you.
What Happens If You Don't Change Apartment Air Filter?
When renting an apartment, it can be quite easy to forget the responsibilities of taking care of the HVAC system. It is one of those small things that seem to slip everyone's mind until it causes issues to the unit or the system.
Many problems can occur when you don't change the air filter. Aside from costly repair issue, dirty air filters can also cause health problems.
Here are some things you can expect to happen with unmaintained air filters:
Broken HVAC systems
Air filters that do not go through regular maintenance, like cleaning and changing, often cause a buildup in the unit. Dust, debris, and other contaminants that the HVAC system picks up will stick to the filter until it cannot function properly.
When this happens, the blockage can cause major issues to the HVAC systems. There are occasions when the HVAC system cannot regulate the temperature due to the buildup. Sometimes, it can cause condensation and overwork the system's motor.
High electricity bills
Aside from causing system issues, a poorly maintained air filter can cause higher electricity bills. When the filter is dirty, it makes mantaining air flow through the unit harder, causing the motor work harder. Becuase of this, the motor uses more energy than it should and becomes more costly.
Poor air quality and health issues
The job of an air filter is to filter the air that the people inside the room breathe in. This means they will pick up dust and contaminants that are unsafe for breathing. However, air filters can only work properly if they are constantly kept clean.
Dirty air filters will cause subpar air quality from your HVAC system. When the filters are dirty, they cannot pick up the contaminants in the room, leaving them airborne and circulating everywhere.
Another issue you may encounter from dirty air filters is health problems. People with asthma, allergies, or respiratory issues may feel the effects of these dirty filters. This is because more dust and air contaminants are in the air, and they can trigger health issues.
Which Light Bulbs Should I Choose For My Apartment?
Since changing the light bulbs is most likely a renter's responsibility, you shoul choose the best option for your home. The best one would be to pick a light bulb that is energy efficient but bright enough to illuminate the space.
Many different light bulbs are available on the market. You can always ask your landlord for their preference or the brand that they used before you moved in. However, you can also do your research and pick one that suits your lifestyle best.
LED light bulbs
Get these LED light bulbs on Amazon.
LED light bulbs are gaining popularity because they can emit the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs with less energy. These bulbs emit a soft light that is bright and easy on the eyes. They are perfect to use anywhere at home as a "general use" light bulb.
LED Smart bulb
Check out these LED Smart bulbs on Amazon.
These light bulbs will be perfect for homeowners who are more familiar with a smart home system. LED smart bulbs work seamlessly with smart programs like Alexa to automate lighting your home. This is perfect if you want to turn your lights on and off using timers and automated routines.
Dimmable light bulbs
See these dimmable light bulbs on Amazon.
In some house rooms, like living rooms and bedrooms, it's a great idea to add some mood lighting to the space. The perfect light bulb choice for rooms like these is dimmable lights. You can easily change the intensity of the light depending on the mood you want.
Color changing bulbs
Grab these color-changing bulbs on Amazon.
Aside from dimmable lights, another way to create mood lighting for a room is to use color-changing light bulbs. These color-changing lights are smart bulbs; you can connect them through an app or use Alexa to turn them on and off.
What Other Responsibilities Do Renters Have?
Aside from changing air filters and lightbulbs in the apartment, there are other responsibilities renters should know. After all, renting the space also requires respect for the things that the landlord has provided.
Of course, always check your lease agreement to know which of these are your responsibility.
Clogged drains
If the tenant causes a drain clogging, it is their responsibility to get a plumber to fix it. This is particularly true if the tenant misuses the garbage disposal or they flush things down the toilet and cause the water to back up.
Damages caused by the tenant
"If you break it, you fix it." This is quite possibly one of the most common things renters should know. Landlords trust that their renters are responsible enough to use the space accordingly without damaging them. As a renter, if you do damage the apartment, make sure to get it fixed too.
Cleanliness
A clean apartment means that there will be no pest infestations that can cause problems for your neighbors. Please keep your apartment clean all the time to avoid problems that can cause issues to the entire apartment.
Final Thoughts
As a tenant, it is always a good idea to know your responsibilities over renting the space. Always check your lease agreement to know exactly what you are responsible for, like changing the air filters and light bulbs. This will prevent problems with your landlord and make you more comfortable at home.
Do you want to know more about apartment complexes? We have a couple of articles that might help you:
Does An Apartment Complex Have To Replace The Carpet? [And How Often]
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