The Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (WECHC) provides clear guidelines to tenants regarding their responsibilities for maintaining their units and the surrounding premises. Here's a summary of the key points from the lease agreement:
Reporting Maintenance Concerns
- Immediate Notification: Notify WECHC right away if there is damage caused by you, your household members, or guests.
- General Maintenance: Report non-emergency maintenance issues during regular business hours.
Afterhours Maintenance Emergencies
- Emergency Situations: Call 911 for situations involving fire, death, serious medical emergencies, or threats to life.
- CHC Emergencies: For maintenance emergencies, contact WECHC after hours. Emergency situations include:
- Flooding, frozen water lines, or water leaking into your unit or common areas.
- No heat in your unit when the temperature is below 15°C.
- Sewer backup.
- Non-Emergencies: These will be addressed during regular business hours.
Tenant Maintenance Responsibilities
As a tenant, you are responsible for maintaining your unit and surrounding areas, including but not limited to:
- Keeping both the interior and exterior of your unit clean.
- Removing snow and ice from walkways, municipal sidewalks, and maintaining your lawn and front/back yards.
- Replacing light bulbs, unclogging toilets and drains, and cleaning the furnace and air ducts.
- Notifying WECHC immediately about any plumbing, heating, or electrical issues.
Pest Control
- If you notice pests such as bed bugs, cockroaches, or mice, contact your Tenant Services Manager immediately for assistance.
Balcony Maintenance
You are responsible for cleaning the inside and outside of balcony doors, windows, and tracks during your tenancy.
- Storage Restrictions: Balconies cannot be used for storage.
- Safety: Do not shake, throw, or hand anything out of the windows or balconies.
Tenant Charges
If damage occurs due to your actions, or if repairs are needed because of your negligence, WECHC will invoice you for the costs. You are responsible for paying these charges within 30 days of receiving the invoice.
- Non-payment Consequences: Failure to pay these charges may result in eviction.
- Examples of Charges:
- Laundry card replacement
- Lock change due to lost keys
- Lawn mowing
- Replacement of lost fobs or keys
- Resetting the breaker panel
- Shoveling snow
- Unclogging drains or toilets
- Removal and disposal of items
If you face difficulty in paying any charges, it’s important to reach out to your Tenant Services Manager to discuss possible arrangements.