Rental properties tend to incur many more plumbing issues than owner-occupied homes.

The reality is, tenants rarely treat a rented property with the same care and respect as they would their own.

A mix of bad habits, neglect and local environmental factors can combine to trigger a range of plumbing issues.

The most common ones are blocked drains.

Blocked drains cost Australian property managers thousands of dollars annually in emergency repairs and lost rental income.

The best way to guard against these issues developing and becoming more serious problems is with proactive maintenance.

Why rental properties are at the greatest risk

Tenants are notorious in showing scant regard for a rental property.

The threat of losing bond money might ensure the property is visually maintained.

But how it is treated behind closed doors is much harder to judge and police.

The pouring of oil, fat, grease and other contaminants down drains along with food scraps, hair and other debris can quickly take its toll on any plumbing system.

Foreign objects such as sanitary products, wipes or even toys may be flushed or dropped into drains.

A high turnover of tenants further elevates the risk of falling victim to bad practices.

Older rental properties with ageing pipes may already be under duress and much more prone to blockages due to rust and corrosion or the build-up of soil and sediment.

In addition, Adelaide’s local soil types and many species such as willows, gums, figs, palms and pepper trees have invasive roots.

These roots can damage underground pipes, leading to bursts or blockages.

They account for a significant proportion of pipe blockages in Adelaide’s leafier suburbs.

Sometimes, even heavy rains can wash debris into external drainage systems.

How to identify when drains might be blocked

When it comes to rental properties, regular inspections and dialogue with tenants is the best way to help identify and treat any issues before they deteriorate and become more costly.

There are a number of telltale signs that drains might be blocked.

They are:

• slow draining sinks, baths or showers

• gurgling or bubbling sounds from drains or toilets

• foul or sewage-like odours near drains or outside sewer lines

• water backing up into basements, laundry areas or outside drains

Risks of ignoring blocked drains

There a multitude of risks if you choose to ignore a blocked drain in a rental property.

The obvious one to the tenant is water damage to their private property which may result in a compensation claim.

But with back flow of any kind comes the risk of mould growth and potential health issues to the tenants which could also be attributed to neglect by the property’s owner.

Ultimately, the vendor has the most to lose and risks the following:

• water damage causing structural issues as well as mould and mildew which can be difficult to remove

• increased repair costs due to bigger blockages or even pipe collapse

• bad reviews from tenants leading to higher vacancy rates and lost income

• non-compliance with property maintenance and rental regulations leading to action being taken by Consumer and Business Services

Preventative maintenance for rental properties

Property managers are strongly encouraged to invest in regular preventative maintenance of their rental properties to ensure plumbing systems remain in good working order.

Professional plumbers will inspect drains with CCTV cameras and use high-pressure water jetting to clear any blockages from pipes.

It is wise to schedule maintenance before and after winter months to ensure pipes are free from storm debris and have not been compromised by root growth.

In additoin, working closely with tenants in caring for blocked drains has been shown to reduce the incidence of blockages by as much as 30 per cent.

Educate your tenants about drain care and proper disposal habits.

Ask them to call at the first sign of a blocked drain, promising swift action to prevent any deterioration.

Get expert plumbing support today

Too often, blocked drains lead to blocked cash flow.

But a smart and inexpensive way to guard against such an outcome is the regular plumbing maintenance of your rental properties.

And when you need a plumbing professional for your rental properties, you should look no further than James Smith Plumbing.

JSP is one of South Australia’s most dependable and trusted plumbing companies and has the local expertise you need.

They are vastly experienced at working with property managers, rental properties and their tenants.

They respond quickly with flexible scheduling to minimise tenant disruption.

They also offer:

• proven expertise in diagnosing and clearing Adelaide’s unique drainage challenges

• transparent reporting to property managers and competitive pricing tailored for rental portfolios

• maintenance plans for ongoing drain health monitoring

Best of all, JSP is also on hand 24/7 to attend to any and all types of plumbing emergencies that your tenants may encounter.

Remember, regular maintenance is critical, especially for rental and older properties.

And it is actually much cheaper than expensive repairs.

Call James Smith Plumbing today on 0411 206 046 at the first sign of a problem and for all your plumbing advice and maintenance needs.

You can rely on JSP for the highest standards of workmanship and a minimum of fuss.