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What counts as an emergency repair?

At night, water drips from a kitchen ceiling light into a pot while a renter on the phone lays towels on the floor
  1. Report it the urgent way
  2. Immediate danger: call for help
  3. Limit damage safely

The short answer

An emergency generally involves an immediate threat to people, essential conditions or serious property damage, but the response depends on the facts. Residents should use emergency services for immediate danger and the property's urgent reporting route.

On this page

Collect essential information safely

Identify the location, reported hazard and callback details. Do not ask residents to investigate dangerous electrical, gas or structural conditions to complete a routine intake form.

Escalate to actual response

Contact the responsible person or appropriate emergency professional and confirm the handoff. Record updates and follow through until the immediate danger and remaining repair needs are addressed.

Example: active flooding

A report of rapidly spreading water needs prompt assessment and the established urgent response. A routine next-business-day acknowledgment alone does not establish that someone is addressing the condition.

References and next steps

Use these references for the specific topic they cover. Local requirements and individual circumstances may differ.

The Rentari team writes and updates this guide. Examples illustrate decisions and do not describe customer results. Found an error or an unclear step? Send a correction with a link to this page and the wording you’d change.