Lansing Rental Roof Checklist

Tenants rarely look at the roof, but they are usually the first to see the signs of a problem: a stain on the ceiling, a drip during a thaw, a gutter hanging loose after a storm. In a city with snowy winters and stormy summers, an early report can be the difference between a small repair and a soaked ceiling. This checklist tells tenants what to watch for and what to report.

Report within a day or two

• A new stain or bubble in paint on a top-floor ceiling or wall
• Shingles, ridge caps or flashing lying in the yard
• A gutter sagging or pulling away from the house
• Water coming over the gutter edge in heavy rain
• A musty smell in an upstairs closet or bedroom

Report right away

• Water dripping from a ceiling, light fixture or around a skylight
• A ceiling that sags or bulges
• A tree limb resting on the roof after a storm
• Large icicles or a thick ridge of ice along the eaves with water showing inside

Winter: what tenants can safely do

1. Never climb onto the roof or chip at ice.
2. If water drips, catch it in a bucket and move belongings away.
3. Keep heat on and set to a normal temperature when away over winter break.
4. Tell the manager if ice keeps forming in the same spot. See the Lansing winter roof guide.

After a summer storm

• Look from the ground for missing shingles and bent gutters
• Check top-floor ceilings over the next few days
• Take photos of anything you see and send them with your report
• More: checking your roof after a Mid-Michigan storm

Student rentals near campus

Many houses near Michigan State are older homes with several roofs' worth of history. When tenants leave for breaks, ask them to report any stains before they go and have someone check the house after big storms.

For property managers

A spring and fall roof and gutter check prevents most leak calls. For repairs and service, see roof repair, roof leak repair, ice dams and gutters.