Maintenance Request Form

If you have ever been a renter, you are probably already familiar with maintenance request forms. These integral documents are how tenants communicate issues needing repair or replacement with their landlords or property managers. Once submitted, they are also used to create work orders for various personnel who attend to those requests, like plumbers and electricians. Creating your own maintenance request form for your tenants is easier than you think. Our template can help you quickly create a customized document to process those maintenance issues effectively. Read on to learn all about how to turn your template into a useful form you can adapt and reuse over time.

What Is a Maintenance Request Form

A Maintenance Request Form is used to formally notify property owners, landlords, or facility managers about issues or repairs needed in residential and commercial properties. The vital document lets tenants and occupants report maintenance concerns, like plumbing problems, electrical issues, or general repairs. It is also a written record of the occurrence and assists in initiating and documenting the maintenance or repair process.

Why Is a Maintenance Request Form Important?

A Maintenance Request Form is important in property management and maintenance procedures. Below is our list of reasons every professional rental outfit needs this document.

• Streamlines Communication: The form is a standard method for occupants to communicate their maintenance needs. Using a simple written or digital document ensures clarity and consistency in reporting.
• Efficient Documentation: All reported issues are documented in writing using a maintenance request form. Doing this creates a reliable record for property owners or facility managers to track and prioritize repairs.
• Prompt Resolution: A maintenance request form helps property owners or facility managers assess and address reported maintenance concerns efficiently. This aids in timely repairs and minimizes inconvenience to occupants.
• Resource Allocation: Having a systematic process for maintenance requests helps property owners or facility managers allocate resources, including staff, equipment, and materials. This is especially important when you have a large or multi-unit property or work with multiple locations.
• Legal Compliance: Using a maintenance request form demonstrates the property owner’s commitment to maintaining a safe and habitable environment. Compliance with local housing regulations and tenant rights is crucial.
• Tenant Satisfaction: Providing tenants with a formal maintenance request form establishes a sense of transparency, professionalism, and accountability. Offering this unique document helps create positive landlord-tenant relationships.

Important Note: You can’t please everyone all the time. Make sure tenants understand that you are responding to requests promptly based on urgency and then prioritizing based on the date of receipt and labor availability.

Essential Elements of a Maintenance Request Form

The essential elements of a maintenance request form are about communicating a significant problem that must be addressed through repair or replacement. These forms have all the essential information to record and facilitate those repairs. Here is what you need to include:

• Form Title: Add the title “Maintenance Request Form” or “Maintenance Issue Report” at the top for easy identification.
• Requester Information: Collects the requester’s details, including their name, contact information, and other relevant identification information.
• Request Details (Date and Time): The requester indicates the date and time they submit the maintenance request form.
• Maintenance Issue Information: This section identifies the problem specifically.
  • Location of Issue: Requester specifies the exact location of the maintenance issue within the property, like a room number or specific area.
  • Type of Maintenance Issue: They select the appropriate category or type of maintenance issue from a predefined list, such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or general repair.
  • Detailed Description of Issue: In this field, the requester provides a thorough and specific description of the maintenance issue, including all relevant details and observations.
• Priority and Requested Completion Date: This is where the requester indicates the priority level and suggests a preferred completion date by taking into account the urgency and severity of the issue.
• Attachments: The requester can attach any supporting documents, like photographs or additional notes, to assist in assessing and addressing the maintenance issue.
• For Office Use Only: This area near the bottom is reserved for internal use and often includes the following subheadings:
  • Received By: The name or initials of the person receiving the maintenance request.
  • Date Received: The date the request form was received.
  • Time Received: The time the request form was received.
  • Assigned To: Individual or department responsible for addressing the maintenance issue.
  • Expected Completion Date: Anticipated date by which the maintenance task is expected to be completed.
  • Actual Completion Date: Date on which the maintenance issue was resolved or repaired.
  • Notes: This is space for additional comments or internal notes regarding the maintenance request.
  • Status: The current status of the maintenance request, such as “In Progress,” “Completed,” or “Pending,” should be updated during the process.
• Requester Signature and Date Lines: At the bottom, the renter/occupant signs and dates the maintenance request form, indicating their agreement with the information provided.

Pro Tip: Customize your maintenance request form with helpful visuals, good examples, and easy-to-understand instructions to make sure your tenants use these forms correctly.

How to Write a Maintenance Request Form

An effective and useful maintenance request form is more than some hastily copied questions. Here we’ve compiled some tips for how to write this document so you can make the most out of your template.

• Use a professional tone throughout the form to ensure respectful and business-like communication.
• Provide clear instructions to guide tenants or occupants on completing the form accurately so all the relevant information is provided.
• Keep it simple so tenants, especially those with urgent issues, can easily fill out their portion of the document quickly and with little to no confusion.
• Proofread and edit the form for grammar, spelling, and formatting errors to ensure clarity and professionalism. Clear and error-free forms facilitate a smoother and more efficient review process and help build tenant confidence in their landlords or property managers.
• Review and revise your document over time. This lets you customize as you go, so the form always stays current and legally compliant.

FAQ

Key Points

A maintenance request form is an easy way for you to make sure your tenants and occupants can communicate their repair and maintenance needs with you in a timely fashion. These incredibly helpful documents streamline the whole process, making it easier and faster to respond to maintenance needs. They also help increase tenant satisfaction and better tenant-landlord relationships. Finally, these forms are a part of the paper trail needed for proper recordkeeping. By using our customizable maintenance request form template, you can save time and keep your property in good working order.