Things aren't always going to go smoothly with your rental. When things go awry, there should be no fear in asking your landlord to help you fix them. Going through the right process can all the parties happy while simultaneously fixing the issues with swiftness.

Situations worth Addressing

Part of building a legitimate relationship with a landlord in terms of repairs is knowing what their responsibilities are. You do not want to be the "tenant who cried repair" by calling your landlord for things like burnt out light bulbs (unless things like light bulbs are agreed upon in a lease before moving in).

Familiarity with your lease is the best way to know what is appropriate. Typically, maintenance issues such as plumbing, electrical, mold, and structural issues fall under the responsibility of the property manager. Often there will be clauses dictating responsibility to the tenant if the issues can be cited back to being the tenant's fault - otherwise the property manager will be responsible for fixing the issue. If there is something wrong that compromises the livability of the home, the property manager is required to take care of this right away. Other issues may also include noise complaints with our neighbors or any signs of a security breach.

Contacting With Haste

Once an issue has been identified, it's important to not delay in letting your property manager know. Waiting too long can not only advance the problem but may be a point of dispute with the property manager as to why he or she was not alerted earlier. Getting the process started early, even if it is a minor issue, can keep everything going smoothly and minimize stress all around.

Written Notice

When notifying your property manager about an issue for the first time, do so in written format. Ideally a letter is the best way, but an email can also work well. A physical notice like this, as opposed to verbal, succeeds on several levels. With the amount of calls and conversations a property manager has a day, there is a possibility something like this may get pushed to the side or forgotten throughout their day.
Unless it is an emergency, the property manager will not likely address the issue on the same day you tell them so as time passes they may forget your verbal notification. Your landlord will appreciate your taking the time to give them a physical request.

Politeness

While this may seem like common courtesy, it's still crucial to remember to address you landlord with hospitality and politeness. Though it may be the property manager's responsibility to take care of the issue, bitter "nagging" will only make the process more miserable for everyone involved. Remember that you the goal is to get the issue resolved in the best manner possible and showing gratitude and appreciation will help ease your landlord and make them less resistant in complying.

Accountability

There are times when, even when going through the process correctly, your property manager may drop the ball and not follow through with repairs. It is your job to remind them of their responsibility. Cite your lease agreement first and foremost if there is any dispute. The aforementioned written notice of repair issues can also be used to show how long it has been since the issue was first brought up to the landlord and gives you the upper hand if there is a dispute and the landlord claims not to have known about any issues. You should not have to simply dismiss a landlord's refusal to make repairs. If the situation is one where the livability of your home is compromised, legal discourse may be required.