Property maintenance is more than just fixing leaks; it is a strategic investment that requires budgeting approximately 1% of a home’s value annually to ensure legal habitability and long-term asset appreciation. At Doorstead, we simplify this complex responsibility by managing an average of 63+ tenant interactions per property each year—from routine troubleshooting to 24/7 emergency dispatch. This proactive approach saves property owners over 100+ hours in annual coordination while mitigating the high costs of deferred maintenance.

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In this comprehensive guide, we cover everything a property owner needs to know about 2026 maintenance standards, including:

• Financial Planning: How to use the "1% Rule" for maintenance budgeting.
• Legal Compliance: Understanding the "Implied Warranty of Habitability" and current state mandates.
• The Doorstead Process: We'll answer some of the most common questions about our repair and maintenance process. Please refer to this as a reference guide and schedule a call with our team anytime to discuss any additional questions you might have. 

Managing Maintenance: The General Industry Standards

How much should I budget for rental repairs? (The 1% Rule)

As a general industry standard, property owners should budget approximately 1% of the property’s total value annually for routine maintenance. For a property valued at $600,000, this equates to a $6,000 yearly reserve. While newer properties may require less, older homes or those in harsh climates (like coastal or high-humidity areas) often require closer to 2% to 3% to stay competitive and compliant.

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What repairs are landlords legally required to make?

Landlords are legally obligated to maintain the "Implied Warranty of Habitability," ensuring the property is safe, sanitary, and fit for human occupation. In 2026, these standards have expanded significantly. For example, in California (AB 628), landlords are now required to provide and maintain a functioning stove and refrigerator in all new or renewed leases to meet habitability standards.

Failure to address these "habitability" issues typically allows tenants to legally withhold rent or use "repair and deduct" remedies.

Standard Habitability Requirements include:

• Essential Utilities: Reliable access to heat, electricity, gas, and clean running water (hot and cold).
• Structural Integrity: Weatherproofing on roofs and walls, and stable floors/stairs.
• Safety & Security: Functioning deadbolts, window locks, and up-to-date smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.
• Sanitation: A property free from pests (vermin/rodents) and access to proper trash receptacles.
• Appliances: In many jurisdictions, functioning kitchen appliances are no longer "amenities" but legal requirements.

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Why proactive maintenance saves money? (The cost of deferral)

Proactive maintenance can reduce total repair costs by up to 30% and extend the lifespan of major assets, like HVAC systems, by 20% or more. Conversely, "deferred maintenance"—postponing a repair to save cash today—is often the most expensive mistake a landlord can make.

In 2026, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) reports that preventive maintenance programs deliver an average 545% ROI.

The Hidden Risks of Deferred Maintenance:

1. Tenant Turnover: Maintenance responsiveness is the #1 factor in tenant retention. High turnover costs (vacancy + leasing fees) usually outweigh the cost of the original repair.
2. Legal Liability: Postponing a "minor" mold or electrical issue can lead to costly lawsuits or municipal fines.
3. Asset Devaluation: A property with a history of neglected repairs will appraise significantly lower during a sale or refinance.

How Doorstead Helps: We manage 63+ tenant interactions annually to ensure your property stays in "proactive" mode. Our team identifies warning signs during routine turnover and move-in/move-out inspections, ensuring your investment appreciates rather than decays.

The Doorstead Approach to Repairs

How are repairs and maintenance handled, and who is responsible for the costs?

Property owners are responsible for the costs associated with the initial repairs and any ongoing maintenance. However, Doorstead will work closely with you to prioritize repairs, provide estimates, and manage the coordination with our trusted vendor network to ensure quality and fair pricing.

What are rent-ready repairs? Doorstead provides rental property owners a checklist of property condition requirements, and owners self-manage the initial make-ready process to prepare the rental for tenants.

While a Doorstead-lead rent-ready evaluation process isn’t required for Manage and Flex, we offer a rent-ready process as an optional add-on with an applicable fee.

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How does Doorstead handle ongoing maintenance?

For the full duration of the tenant lease, Doorstead handles all repair and maintenance requests directly from tenants. We assess the issue, troubleshoot with the tenant, and if necessary, coordinate with licensed professionals to resolve the problem. 

For repairs that exceed your pre-approved spending limit (landlord approval threshold), we will seek your approval before proceeding with any work.

Here’s how we handle different ongoing property repair scenarios once we’ve placed your tenant:

• Non-emergency repairs: Doorstead verifies the need for repairs and troubleshoots with tenants. If the issue persists and the request is valid, we gather the scope of work and quickly collect estimates from our trusted vendor network. If the estimates are within the owner's pre-approved maintenance limit, approval is automatically given. This Not to Exceed (NTE) amount is $500 for all owners. If estimates exceed the NTE, we require owner approval on the repairs (through text or email). Once approved, Doorstead manages and quality assures the work and invoices the owner.
• Emergency repairs: Doorstead qualifies the repair and troubleshoots with tenants, and if the issue persists and the request is valid, we call the property owner immediately to check for preferred vendors and next steps. If the owner doesn't answer, an emergency vendor in our network is dispatched. Doorstead manages and quality assures the work and invoices the owner. Home warranties aren't used in emergency situations to ensure timely resolution.
• After-hours emergencies: When a tenant submits an after-hours emergency ticket, an auto-response is sent with helpful information for the tenant and emergency vendor phone numbers. Emergency vendors are dispatched to mitigate the issue at the next earliest working availability, and Doorstead quality assures the work and invoices the owner the following morning after the repairs have been completed.
• Home warranty repairs: If the repair falls under home warranty coverage, Doorstead contacts the owner to provide the home warranty company with information and have them coordinate directly with tenants to resolve the issue.

The cost of ongoing maintenance repairs is generally the property owner's responsibility. Again, we work to ensure that all costs are reasonable, standard market rates, and that owners are kept informed and approve any expenses that exceed their pre-approved maintenance limit.

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What are turnover repairs?

These are any repairs needed to prepare the property for the next resident, either from wear and tear or tenant caused damage. Specifics surrounding the turnover repair process are summarized below by product and situation. 

• For renewing owners: Doorstead completes a Move-Out Walk-Through, compares it to the Move-In Walk-Through, identifies tenant damages, regular maintenance or wear and tear, obtains estimates, manages tenant and owner-responsible repairs, quality assures the work, returns the security deposit, and completes the Security Deposit Return Form in compliance with state regulations.
• For owners leaving Doorstead: Owners manage the turnover repair process or can opt-in for Doorstead's managed turnover service for an additional charge.

The cost of turnover repairs and maintenance is generally the property owner's responsibility unless the tenant causes damage beyond normal wear and tear. For more information, read our dedicated turnover guide here.

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How involved are property owners in approving repairs and maintenance expenses?

Property owners are involved in approving repairs and maintenance expenses that exceed their pre-approved maintenance limit (a $500 standard). We provide owners with estimates for approval (via text or email) before proceeding with any work that surpasses this threshold.  

We manage an average of 63 tenant interactions (emails, calls, and maintenance requests) on behalf of our owners annually after tenant placement. This property management saves owners countless hours and spares them unnecessary headaches. You're in good hands with us!

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What is Doorstead’s process for handling repair and maintenance requests from tenants?

Tenants submit a maintenance request via a form on their tenant portal. Doorstead's property management team follows a systematic process to address the issue.

We first qualify the repair and troubleshoot with the tenants. If the issue persists and the request is valid, we obtain a scope of work and estimates. 

• If the estimates are within the owner's pre-approved limit, we proceed automatically.
• If the estimates exceed the limit, we seek owner approval before proceeding.

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What is the quality of vendors and contractors used by Doorstead?

Doorstead works with a network of trusted, licensed, and insured vendors and contractors to handle repairs and maintenance. We carefully vet our vendors to ensure they provide high-quality work and excellent service.

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Can home warranties be used for repairs and maintenance?

Yes, home warranties can be used for certain repairs and maintenance tasks. If a repair falls under the coverage of a home warranty, Doorstead will contact the owner to provide the home warranty company with information and have the warranty company coordinate with tenants to resolve the issue. 

However, please note that home warranties are not used in emergency situations to ensure timely resolution.

At Doorstead, our goal is to make the repairs and maintenance process as smooth and stress-free as possible for every property owner. 

We hope this article answers your pressing questions. If you have any other questions about working with Doorstead, please contact our Customer Support team via email at [email protected] or call +1 (415)-877-9235.