---
title: "Maintenance reserve — What It Means | Ondo RE"
canonical: https://www.ondorealestate.com/glossary/maintenance-reserve/
---

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Renting & management[All terms starting with M](/glossary/#letter-M)

# Maintenance reserve

Money set aside monthly for routine repairs, so ordinary problems do not become cash-flow emergencies.

A maintenance reserve covers the ordinary and recurring: appliance repairs, plumbing calls, minor damage. It is distinct from a CapEx reserve, which funds large replacements.

Older properties and those with deferred maintenance need larger reserves. The reserve is what keeps a broken water heater from becoming a financing problem.

## Related terms

- [CapEx (Capital expenditures)Large, infrequent replacements (roof, HVAC, water heater), budgeted monthly even though they are paid rarely.](/glossary/capex/)
- [Operating expensesThe recurring costs of running a property: taxes, insurance, management, maintenance, and owner-paid utilities.](/glossary/operating-expenses/)
- [Cash flowWhat remains each month after rent has covered operating expenses and debt service.](/glossary/cash-flow/)

## Go deeper

- [Maintenance coordination](/property-management/maintenance-coordination/)

## More in Renting & management

- [Eviction](/glossary/eviction/)
- [Fair housing](/glossary/fair-housing/)
- [HOA (Homeowners Association)](/glossary/hoa/)
- [Lease agreement](/glossary/lease-agreement/)
- [Move-out inspection](/glossary/move-out-inspection/)
- [Normal wear and tear](/glossary/normal-wear-and-tear/)

## Have a question about your own situation?

Ondo handles brokerage, lending, property management and notary under one roof, so the answer does not change depending on who you ask.

[Talk to Ondo](/contact/)[Browse all terms](/glossary/)