The Importance of Understanding Your Own Lease

Posted by Teresa on August 5, 2013 under Lease and Rental Agreements, Legal | Be the First to Comment

Where do you obtain your leases and other legal documents? Many landlords and property managers download them from the Internet, which is fine—but it’s always best to have a lawyer who is versed in landlord-tenant law look it over before you sign on the dotted line.

If you don’t have a lease prepared or approved by a legal professional, you could be setting yourself up for trouble without even realizing it. How? By either not understanding the terms of your lease, or by using one that is not applicable in your state.

We learned recently of a new landlord whose lease terminology bit her in the foot. While she thought that she made it clear that pet deposits were non-refundable, she actually states in the lease that the entire amount she was charging ($500) was completely refundable! Here is the language she used:

“Tenant shall pay to Landlord a pet deposit of five hundred dollars, zero dollars of which shall be non-refundable.”

If zero dollars are non-refundable, then the rest must be refundable, right? In addition, the lease stated that the pet deposit would be used for the purpose of cleaning the carpet. A tenant could argue that if the carpets did not need cleaning upon the termination of the lease, the landlord was not entitled to the funds. There were no other possible uses stated, so the landlord could not use the deposit to repair carpet or flooring, replace moldings, or fix any other items a dog or cat might have damaged.

Unfortunately, the landlord did not realize her mistakes until a tenant with a dog moved out and demanded the entire pet deposit returned. The tenant  understood that the entire deposit was, indeed, refundable according to the lease they both signed.

The lesson here is to not only understand the terms of your own lease, but to write the lease in plain English. If you want to charge a non-refundable pet deposit, then say so. Don’t add in conditions or uses for the deposit, such as cleaning carpets.

And finally, seek expert advice on lease questions and other legal matters. It’s worth it in the long run!

When Should Landlords Negotiate on Rent?

Posted by Teresa on June 28, 2013 under Lease and Rental Agreements, Rents and Deposits | Be the First to Comment

In many areas of the country, rental vacancies are very low; some are at all-time lows. But that’s not the case in every market. If you’re a landlord or property manager with no available units for lease and a waiting list, you don’t need to worry about whether or not to negotiate the rent. But for those of you who have vacancies to fill, should you be considering it?

Here are some tips for knowing when it might pay to negotiate the rent:

When you’re in a renter’s market. When local economic conditions are such that vacancies are high and demand is low, that’s a renter’s market. Savvy tenants will read the signs: units staying vacant for months, several open units in the same complex or building, and landlords who seem anxious to get a lease signed.

Your tenants moved out months ago. If you have several empty apartment units, or your rental home has been empty for more than a month, it’s probably time to consider negotiating with prospective tenants. Losing a month’s rent for too long can be difficult to make up.

You don’t have other perks or amenities to offer. When attempting to attract new tenants, landlords often waive certain fees or pay for a tenant’s Internet service for several months. If you can’t offer other perks, then rent may be your only place to negotiate and bring a tenant to the table.

You have a high-quality applicant. When you have a tenant who meets your income requirements, passed your tenant screening with flying colors, has a steady job and gets rave reviews from former landlords, it might pay to negotiate on the rent. And if that applicant is willing to sign a long-term lease—such as two years—you might regret not reducing the rent if it’s a deal breaker.

Your unit is overpriced. If your tenant has done her homework, she’ll know what comparable units are going for in your area. If she can walk away and rent another place for less money, you might find it difficult to get a good tenant in your building without matching—or at least coming close to—comparable units.

And don’t forget that in negotiation, you also get to ask for what you want. For example, in exchange for lowering the rent, you might get your tenant to agree to pay before the first of the month, or to pay the first few months up front. You could ask for an 18- or 24-month lease. Or, you could ask the tenant to accelerate his move-in date.

What Does a Dream Lease Applicant Look Like?

Posted by Teresa on May 24, 2013 under Lease and Rental Agreements, Tenant Credit Checks, Tenant Screening & Background Checks | Be the First to Comment

Okay, that’s a trick question. Why? Because your dream applicant shouldn’t “look like” anything in particular: not male, female, black, white, Asian, Catholic, Muslim, American, Russian or any other pre-determined profile. Using a prospective tenant’s race, color, religion, country of origin, gender, family status or disability to either approve or reject him or her for a lease is against the law, after all.

But there are several qualities that most landlords would probably agree make for a dream applicant:

• She can afford the rent: Smart tenants know how much of their take-home salary should go to their rent, utilities, car payment and other bills each month. Dream tenants only apply for rental housing they can afford.
  
• He has stable employment: A dream applicant is proud to present his employment history, because it shows he’s stable enough to hold down a job for longer than a month.
  
• She doesn’t balk at the tenant screening process: These days, smart tenants know that they will probably undergo tenant screening. And they appreciate the fact that you care enough about who lives in your rental property to require background checks for all tenants.
  
• He has a good credit history: The dream tenant has never been evicted, pays his bills on time and lives within his means. He’s not overextended on credit, is not going to have his car repossessed, and will most likely pay his rent on time each month. And, if his credit history is less than stellar, he has a co-signer lined up.
  
• She has great references: When you call a dream applicant’s former landlords and personal references, they all say good things. And they’re not her friends, co-workers or parents who are pretending to be former landlords!

Remember not to judge a prospective tenant by anything other than their ability to pay the rent and security deposit, and pass a background and credit check. And if you’re lucky, you’ll land a dream applicant who becomes a dream tenant!

Can Landlords Ban Firearms From Their Properties?

Posted by Teresa on March 7, 2013 under Landlord and Tenant FAQs, Legal | Be the First to Comment

A landlord recently asked a question regarding firearms:

“Since the Newtown, Conn. shooting, I’ve been thinking that I’d rather not have any guns in my properties. I’m concerned that a tenant or a child could be shot by accident or as a result of a domestic disturbance. And what if a shot went through the wall to another tenant’s apartment? Can I ban firearms?”

It’s true that guns and gun laws are a hot news topic. Many landlords are wondering if they have the right to ban firearms from their properties. The answer in most places is “yes.” It’s always best to check your state and local laws to be sure. Minnesota, for example, does not allow landlords to restrict the lawful carry or possession of firearms by tenants or their guests.

While the second amendment to the U.S. Constitution is widely quoted by firearms owners and enthusiasts, it only covers the government’s response to guns held by private citizens. Just as landlords can ban pets, waterbeds and campers, they can ban guns from their properties.

If they prefer to keep a gun-free property, landlords can choose not to rent to gun owners, who, unlike persons with disabilities or other groups, are not a protected class.

Now, we’re not saying that banning guns will make a landlord more popular. It might make prospective tenants angry. Some gun owners might ignore the rule and bring guns onto the property anyway. If you do find a firearm on the property, the tenant would be in breach of the lease.

But if you feel better instituting a no-guns rule, check with an attorney versed in landlord-tenant law, or check your state’s gun laws before instituting it. For tenants with current leases, you’ll have to wait until renewal to add the new provision. Some may choose to move out. And of course, once you have a signed lease, you would not be allowed to conduct a search of a tenant’s unit to look for firearms.

Why Landlords Should Require Renter’s Insurance

Posted by Teresa on February 22, 2013 under Landlord Tips, Lease and Rental Agreements | Read the First Comment

Experienced landlords know: anything can happen in the rental business. Natural disasters strike, vandals damage property, fires break out and thieves are everywhere.

Of course, rental property owners carry insurance protection on their properties to protect themselves from liability and loss. Most policies cover damages and accidents that occur on the property, but not the tenants’ possessions.

Tenant’s insurance, or renter’s insurance, covers personal property in a rental home or apartment against fire, theft, water damage (but not flooding) and vandalism. It also protects tenants in the event that someone is injured in their unit.

It’s a good idea for tenants to buy an insurance policy, but can landlords require it? Absolutely! In fact, many do and for good reasons:

1. Tenants with renter’s insurance will be less likely to try to sue the landlord in the event of a loss or injury, since they have their own coverage.
2. Renter’s insurance can protect rental property from tenants’ misuse or negligence. For example, if a tenant floods the unit, his or her insurance will pay for the cleanup. Those without renter’s insurance could just move out and leave the mess for the landlord to deal with.
3. Having tenants with their own insurance can help landlords avoid claims on their own policies.
4. Renter’s insurance can protect tenants and landlords against claims in case of dog bites from tenants’ pets. The renter’s policy can cover the claim, so the injured party is less likely to sue the landlord.
5. The peace of mind in knowing your tenants are covered in case of a fire or other disaster can be worth its weight in gold. Insurance proceeds can replace clothing, furniture and other necessities, as well as pay for living expenses in case tenants have to temporarily relocate.

If you do require renter’s insurance, make sure it is clearly explained in the lease agreement. It’s also a good idea to be named as a secondary insured, so you can be notified of lapses in coverage.

The cost of renter’s insurance is often less than $20 per month. If you have prospective tenants who balk at the insurance requirement, perhaps they are not qualified to live in your properties!

Landlord Basics: Which Applicant Gets a Lease?

Posted by Teresa on February 7, 2013 under Rents and Deposits, Screening and Background Checks | Be the First to Comment

If you’re like many landlords, you often have more than one qualified tenant wanting to sign a lease. Let’s assume you’ve already gone through your standard process: application, application fee, tenant background screening and tenant credit check, verifying employers and income, and checking references. Now you have two or more approved prospects, and only one vacant unit.

What do you do? Here are a few guidelines to help you decide:

• Who wants to move in first? Each day your unit is empty, you’re losing money. We give extra points to the tenant whose move-in date comes first. How do you know? Hopefully, you’ve either had this conversation at some point in the process, or your lease application contains the question, “When do you want to move in?”.
• Who has the security deposit and first month’s rent ready? Obviously, it’s a good thing to have all your prospective tenants ready to pay you rent and deposit, but this isn’t always the case. If any approved prospects need some time to come up with the money, move on. And cash is always nice. Let all your applicants know that you will continue accepting applications and showing the unit until the first month’s rent and security deposit are paid.
• Don’t give in to your emotions. You may hear that a prospect can’t pay the security deposit until they move out of their current place. You may hear that they need a week or two to get the rent and deposit together, but they definitely want the unit. They might be nice people, and excellent tenants, but… don’t let them get the upper hand. Don’t forget that he or she may not get the deposit back for awhile, and may not get it all back. So they need to be able to come up with full rent and security deposit for you.
• Be realistic. If a good prospect is looking at your vacancy on the 25th of the month, and want you to hold it until the 1st, it’s not likely you’ll have anyone else ready to move in before then. You can always ask for a deposit to hold the place, and convert it to the security deposit. Adjust your procedures when it makes good business sense.

When You See Things Tenants Don’t Want You to See

Posted by Teresa on October 30, 2012 under Landlord Tips, Lease and Rental Agreements, Legal | Be the First to Comment

Landlords and property managers have the right to enter their properties, with proper notice to their tenants. Whether it’s for routine maintenance work, pest treatments or safety inspections, it’s not only necessary to occasionally enter a tenant’s unit, but it’s a good idea to do so. You need to know what’s going on in your properties.

During these routine inspections, landlords and property managers sometimes see things that tenants don’t intend for you to see, such as:

• Ashtrays, cigarette butts and lighters.
• Pet supplies, like food dishes and litter boxes.
• Drug paraphernalia like pipes, lighters and syringes.
• Illegal drugs, such as marijuana or cocaine.
• Evidence of drug manufacturing.
• Signs of a business being run out of the unit.

What can (and should) you do when this happens? Can you evict the tenant? If the occupant is otherwise a good tenant, should you ignore it? First, it’s always important to be familiar with your state’s laws regarding grounds for eviction. But if any of the activity you have witnessed violates the terms of your lease, you probably do have grounds for eviction.

If you’d rather not go that route, then it’s possible to wait until lease renewal time comes around, and inform the tenant that the lease will not be renewed. Of course, you’ll need to provide proper notice, according to the terms of the lease.

Reasons to Consider Eviction or Non-Renewal of a Lease

• Liability: Landlords can be liable for criminal activity that occurs on their properties—even if they are not aware of it. Landlords can be liable for injuries that occur as a result of illegal activity. Landlords can be liable for injuries caused by a tenant’s pet—even if they are not aware of the pet. Laws vary from state to state, but why take chances?
• Health: Smoking in units where it is not allowed can affect other residents, including children. Second-hand smoke carries chemicals and carcinogens through vents, doorways and windows. In addition, cigarettes are the cause of accidental fires.
• Safety: Each year, almost 1,000 smokers and non-smokers are killed in fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials.
• Fairness: If most tenants follow your rules, such as not running a business out of the rental unit, it’s not fair to make exceptions for someone who ignores the lease. Charges of discrimination could follow.

Strict and equitable enforcement of rental agreements should be every landlord and property manager’s practice. If tenants are conducting illegal or criminal activities or are breaking the terms of their leases, your best move is to get them out and replace them with tenants who will follow the rules and abide by the lease.

And if you need to, amend your lease agreement to include a paragraph prohibiting drugs and other illegal activities on your property.

Need a Good Short-Term Tenant?

Posted by Teresa on October 12, 2012 under Landlord Tips, Lease and Rental Agreements | Be the First to Comment

If you own a property and aren’t interested in renting it out for the long term, there are plenty of potential shorter-term tenants that could be a good fit for your needs.

Consider the following:

• Older people who are retiring and want to rent in an area for a few months before deciding where to live.
• Professionals who fell victim to the housing bubble and lost their houses. Many of these people took a hit to their credit, and need to rent until they can get their finances back in order.
• Career-changers who have moved to an area for a new job and wish to buy, but need short-term housing while they look for a house.
• People who are downsizing or upsizing and have recently sold a house, but haven’t found a new one that works.
• People in transition—whether it’s because of a divorce, illness, death of a spouse or something else. They may not be in a position to make a long-term commitment, but a three- or six-month lease works.
• Adult children of elderly parents who need to live nearby to care for them on a temporary basis.

Certainly, most landlords prefer to have long-term tenants to keep wear and tear down and decrease the hassles of finding new tenants. But if you have a rental property that’s empty, that you may be selling, or that you might move into yourself, there are good tenants out there who need a short-term lease.

With the right kind of homework and some advertising, you can find short-term tenants. Take a look at Craigslist’s “housing wanted” section. And post your listing in the “sublets and temporary” section, with a prominent “short-term welcome” in the heading. Try posting flyers in nearby coffee shops, co-ops and grocery stores.

Be sure to conduct tenant screening on all applicants. Even though the lease is only for the short term, you still need to be sure that your tenant is who they say they are, have adequate credit and income to cover rent and no criminal activity in their backgrounds that could pose a threat.

What to do About Tenants Who Sublet Without Authorization

Posted by Teresa on September 7, 2012 under Eviction, Landlord Paperwork and Forms, Lease and Rental Agreements, Tenant Screening & Background Checks | Be the First to Comment

landlords have faced one of these situations:

• You’re doing a routine maintenance inspection and discover an occupant in the rental whom you’ve never seen before. You ask who he is and he replies, “Oh, I live here.”
• You sign a lease with one tenant. A few months in, she mentions that the rent will be late because her roommate hasn’t paid her share yet. Roommate?
• You live upstairs, your tenant lives downstairs. You notice he hasn’t been around lately, but someone else is clearly staying in the apartment. You ask questions and find out your tenant is away for three months, but he sublet the place to a friend.
• Tenants who live next to one of your rental units call and complain about the three cars that are taking up all the available parking. You reply that only two people live in the unit, but they assure you that three people have been seen regularly coming in and out.

What’s going on? Most likely, your tenant has brought in a roommate or sublet part or all of your rental property to an additional person. If your lease agreement states that no subletting is allowed without your authorization, then the tenant is in violation of the terms of the lease.

The problem with subletting, or adding roommates without your knowledge, is that you have no idea who they are, where the work, if they’ve ever been evicted or convicted of a crime, or if their credit history meets your requirements. Without a chance to perform due diligence, including tenant screening and credit checks—the same tenant screening you do on all prospective tenants—you are at risk of liability for the actions of an unknown person. Plus, your property and business are at risk.

Why would tenants deliberately violate the terms of a lease?

• Maybe they don’t thoroughly read the lease, or forgot what the lease said.
• They may think you won’t catch them in the act, as long as they pay their rent on time.
• Perhaps they think the lease terms don’t actually apply to them.
• Or they simply cannot afford their apartment or house without a roommate.

In any of these cases, you likely have cause to send a cure or quit notice. Of course, check your local and state laws concerning eviction notices. You may want to send a reminder to all your tenants that subletting or adding roommates without your authorization is strictly prohibited. If they want roommates, they must undergo the same application and tenant screening process as everyone else. Explain that this is for the safety of all residents. Keep in mind that treating one group of people differently than others could put you at risk of discrimination charges, so make sure the same rules apply to all of your tenants. Finally, notify tenants that violations are grounds for eviction.

If you do agree to a sublease situation, be sure to put everything in writing. A sublease agreement should be signed by all parties and place in your tenant’s file.Related: which nrl player has won the most grand finals, michelle name puns, north andover high school shooting, crafton funeral home franklin, ky obituaries, why do organisms differ in their methods of reproduction, motion to substitute counsel immigration court sample, how old was jean kerr when she married joseph mccarthy, jefferson salvini randall, spring grove obituaries, sandlot baseball academy 12u, boarding school scholarships for troubled youth, interior lights won’t turn off ford focus, nationwide repossession companies, who is mary in verizon commercial, tiny homes reno nv,Related: annabeth chase actress 2022, how old was jacob when he wrestled with god, perfect plants guildford, social work goals and objectives examples for clients, fault lines in ohio earthquake map, 1 infinite loop charges, genevieve sailing yacht, heartless felons 2021, university of san diego rowing, snowflake connector vs sqlalchemy, rules for parents visiting classrooms, woodward avenue elementary, robert kiyosaki children, pyodbc get rows affected, scotland gangland news,Related: playdays the roundabout stop, buds gun shop death, what stock is jeff bezos and elon musk buying, abandoned places in oshawa, deming crime report for today, why ophelia couldn t leave the duke’s mansion novel, clanton advertiser marriages, harbor freight wire loom, is h2so3 amphoteric, accnt serv proc ebillpymts, sara maldonado trujillo se divorcia, don bosco wrestling tournament, accelerate bluetooth headphones instructions, west chester university football roster, stripes burrito company nutrition facts,Related: old sheldon church ruins wedding cost, what the hales coin pusher, jack carr literary agent, sneaky ways to get back at the other woman, city of reno parking enforcement phone number, delta v rings of saturn wiki, roush funeral home ravenswood, wv obituaries, devin walker molaghan onlyfans, an accounting of safety and health responsibilities should be answer, wml spbo, tenants in common unequal shares calculator, account recovery payment venmo, georgia lieutenant governor election 2022, wisely customer service, tik tok death video,Related: how to become a vision therapist in canada, dutchess county arrests 2020, okc energy fc player salaries, williamson county, tx residential building code, used mobile homes in maine to be moved, joseph williams jr obituary, new trier high school famous alumni, federal tax withholding percentage, heartland farms sweet potato and chicken wraps, repossessed houses for sale in huddersfield, sanford, maine police log october 2020, dori monson endorsements 2021, plano tackle box replacement latches, merchant services cold calling script, accident hillsborough, nj 2021,Related: east baton rouge parish inmate list, andy murray fourth child name, manchester police logs arrests, granjas en venta en homestead, whiting funeral home williamsburg, va obituaries, vintage ceramic soap dish, patrick dovigi wife name, is russ mitchell leaving wkyc, gold coast city council ceo email address, nicole chapman hawaii, quiet title adverse possession alabama, wichita east high school football coach, hull crown court listings, insight partners 2022 wso, mass shooting blytheville ar,Related: tiburon police lawsuit, used cami terra wind amphibious motorcoach for sale, mmat preferred shares payout, justification to convert contract staff to permanent staff, big league dreams fence distance, dropping an egg on the floor superstition, city of mesa building permits search, sig sauer p320 recall serial numbers, john’s pass accident today, new apartments rock quarry rd raleigh, nc, lawrenceton missouri waterfall, famous gamma phi betas, patricia blanchet husband, darlington house kinmel bay, how to reverse bad luck from walking under a ladder,Related: kenwood liquors stony island looted, houses for rent in grand junction, co craigslist, since the army’s civil affairs and psyops forces are comprised, jairos jiri children’s home, deloitte second job policy, abandoned missile silo map kansas, finance department swot analysis examples, troy construction palm springs, nhs pay rise 2022 when will it be paid, lorenzo aureolino bettencourt, 1989 st anthony’s basketball team roster, the links, incorporated lawsuit, jesse james keitel gender born, precepts of the catholic church baltimore catechism, why did aimee kelly leave wolfblood,Related: fidelis income guidelines 2021, expedition unknown producer nicole, cost of membership at skyline country club, black market bakers edgewater md, what is the difference between a 501c3 and a 501c7, countyline 25 ton log splitter ytl 016 919 parts, vital impact 10 gun safe instructions, twa flight 800 pilots last words, a career as a set designer requires what degree, honeywell aerospace phoenix, az address, renault cars models 1960, sunshine golden retrievers wisconsin, how to become a monster energy girl, manchester pacific gateway site plan, which zodiac sign has the most beautiful eyes,Related: bobcat 763 traction lock solenoid location, baldwin county school board meeting schedule, talbots july 2022 catalog, aurora legion baseball, animal tracks in snow with tail drag, shoe dept return policy no receipt, troodon mini in stock, his to claim the epilogue, souhaiter le bonheur en islam, copperhead black snake hybrid, macon transit authority holiday schedule 2021, aquarius moon celebrities male, white hexagon tile with black grout, muskingum county coroners office, pamela brown cnn religion,Related: palm springs bike tour 2022, umarex mp40 magazine repair, extra food stamps ohio, massachusetts foraging laws, charlie rowley special adviser, galveston ferry times, alex mendez reyes pitzer college death, hadith about not talking for three days, airbnb wedding venues missouri, aa route planner walking, what is pineapple and cranberry juice good for you sexually, how to change time lapse speed on iphone 13, san bernardino impounded vehicle, , akc beagle field trial results,Related: hyperbole for the garden is pretty, suge knight son grandmother, antero resources tyler county, wv, best sword in hypixel skyblock mid game, chromebook volume booster, mobile patrol orange county, ny, cherokee county, ga accident reports 2021, paul bangay partner, companies that donate reusable bags, why is chillicothe, ohio so dangerous, dodgers giveaway days 2022, costa georgiadis siblings, naveen pereira queens, welcome to plathville, accident route 14 gloucester, va yesterday,Related: cardboard letters for charcuterie, rooted juice undercover billionaire, how does family shape these three important institutions, 2018 ram 2500 bed caps, get a haircut and get a real job original, what county is brooklyn park md in, ang holy roman empire kontribusyon, meagan flaherty dcc obituary, integrity funeral home recent obituaries, who would win in a fight calculator, bergen county academies summer assignments, fort sanders health and fitness membership cost, what is the average payout for roundup lawsuit, knights of pythias vs masons, samsung odyssey g70a firmware update,Related: snowfall totals maine 2021, steven ben denoon 2020, michael baumann lakeville, pisces man and capricorn woman attraction, biscuit beignets in the air fryer, torrey pines walk up tee times, oro valley suncats softball, labette county court records, , obituaries lebanon, pa lebanon daily news obituaries, ouedkniss fluence 2016, match attax wert liste, largest private landowners in missouri, non russell group universities medicine, disney open casting call 2021,Related: impaired skin integrity as evidenced by, paul william ferrell west virginia, who is greg yao wrestling promoter, baton rouge obituaries, what is saint nadia the patron saint of, mobile homes for rent in st george, sc, burris thermal monocular, ucl email login, herbsaint vs pernod, cooper manning wife, religion anthropology quizlet, pillsbury family heirs, christian liaigre death, columbus ms high school football field, who are the leaders of the new apostolic reformation,Related: display html content in mvc view, cholla buds nutrition, lenny mclean funeral, does jea disconnect on weekends, accidentally put wrong info on background check, mesa county court docket for today, aquarius venus and scorpio venus compatibility, knitting retreats 2022 midwest, deer lodge, mt obituaries, st bonaventure prayer for bowel disorders, star citizen what do you lose on death, what was the population of nobles in mesopotamia, waffle wordle unlimited, craig kelly snowboarder daughter, section 8 houses for rent in greensboro, nc,Related: mini cooper s r53 scorpion exhaust, financial help for grandparents raising grandchildren in pa, death in jupiter, florida, two little red hens cheesecake recipe, maury regional java junction menu, san francisco deck setback requirements, list of clubs at uva, monica miller obituary, minot public schools salary schedule, crossville funeral home, erin riley obituary, northwood university deca scholarships, cineworld vip buffet, city of oxnard public works staff directory, hermano de vanessa bauche,Related: how to display seconds on windows 11 clock, stephen pollan net worth, shweta tripathi and pankaj tripathi related, al anon reading for today, recent arrests atascadero, chris lopez camila baby daddy, old fashioned chocolate cake with fudge icing, lakewood wa city council, how many chicken nuggets are consumed each year, tyler dunning update, green valley for sale by owner, how to use ames dm600 multimeter, sister knock knock jokes, 1998 lsu baseball roster, california hoa tree root damage,Related: advantages and disadvantages of interpretivist research, fish tank manufacturers in bangalore, classroom temperature law california, el paso times obituaries this week, a buyer representation agreement is bilateral, bruce weber, md anesthesiologist, tesco night premium hours, 1430 gerber bridge convention, north crowley high school news, what happens if you break a vow of silence, former wbrc reporters, man at arms: reforged what happened to matt, reedville, va millionaires row, extra large alarm clock, kval news roseburg oregon,Related: country club jobs for 16 year olds, cedar rose pickleball courts, cal berkeley baseball roster, mcdonald’s commercial script, atlas e missile site for sale topeka, kansas, iis express not working with ip address, how to invite parents to parentsquare, mason from kim of queens today, jen fundie fridays where is she from, who owns chris benoit house, dressy jumpsuits for petites, who’s been sentenced in corby, pea and asparagus risotto nigella, bureau of labor statistics turnover rate by industry, rowlett city council place map,Related: 1 million red heart emojis copy and paste, murders in nottingham 1970s, no active question for this presentation mentimeter, how to survive a panda bear attack, how to install mods on fivem single player, standing seam metal roof training, haupia cake liliha bakery, thunder falls buffet opening date, how to silence a deer feeder, port st lucie news car accident yesterday, 55 communities in tennessee for rent, for sale by owner knox county, tn, the big saturday show fox news cast today, kerastase forme fatale replacement, tornado in frisco, tx 2020,Related: dreher high school counseling, city of pewaukee police blotter, houston’s firehouse chili, how did fundamentalism affect society in the 1920s, eveready 24 hour plug in timer instructions, construction jobs st thomas usvi, can you pour concrete over a utility easement, tim hortons financial statements 2020, wrestlemania los angeles 2023 tickets, nipt said boy but it’s a girl, apartments that accept felons in dallas texas, justin torres heritage, jerk chicken pineapple bowl bahama breeze, does lovelyskin sell fake products, high end knit dresses,Related: pet friendly houses for rent in fairborn, ohio, anthony trimino net worth, applied materials cto office, vanguard delaware statutory trust, rent to own homes in pelion, sc, dr marilyn glenville quack, i dropped my dyson hair dryer, list of welsh international footballers, is cape honeysuckle toxic to cats, james hill obituary hailey idaho, how many calories in 1 single french fry, dyson hd08 vs hd03 difference, rifts bestiary pdf, stubhub billy joel madison square garden, asphalt metric street stock setup,Related: fox 13 tampa anchors leaving, did mapleshade’s kits go to starclan, alan autry house, devocionales poderosos, city debt clock, longest sudden death golf playoff, kelli stavast interview, hurricane katrina: superdome documentary, culturemapst2522 irving tx, lotz funeral home obituaries, pacman frog upside down, bill mcdonough musician, houses for rent in san fernando valley, puedo tomar xl3 si estoy lactando, church of england births and baptisms,Related: wrestling photo gallery, sotheby’s realty commission split, dewalt 4400 psi pressure washer manual, sentinelone control vs complete, rising sun, woolaston menu, tipton county most wanted, world kickboxing championship 2022, jewish obituaries atlanta, all cards in random order don’t reschedule anki, economic continuities of the mexican revolution, all shovel locations origins bo3, west wilkes high school football scores, how to call cellphone using pldt landline, richard burke obituary, tennis court “drainage”,Related: cast to void *’ from smaller integer type ‘int, horse property for sale in montrose colorado, ruth’s chris ultipro access code, lamont bentley funeral, harry potter fanfiction sirius finds out harry is a parseltongue, houses for rent in hillsboro, ohio, isaac the challenge playground comment, who plays emily in the ozempic commercial, cazadores paloma nutrition facts, monkey and tiger friendship compatibility, wellness retreat london, you can expect dangerous turbulence in mountain waves and:, holiday builders capri 4 floor plan, michael testani fairfield, ct, always home black full length mirror,Related: 5 importance of taking body measurements, greenhouse wedding venue michigan, lesson 10 2 algebraic representations of dilations, ahc achieve matrix login, where can i buy marzetti potato salad dressing, airbnb fresno tower district, raiden shogun quotes about eternity, jeju real estate agency, is carrigan chauvin anorexic, celebrating eid without loved ones quotes, izuku miruko internship fanfiction, josh jobe nfl draft scout, jefferson parking structure usc, famous hollywood restaurants 1980s, can you have chickens in clinton township mi,Related: 168 errors armageddon, georgia state basketball recruiting, tstc fall 2022 start date, joel diaz boxing gym location, uscis texas service center, magento 2 data patch add attribute, houses for rent in lexington, sc under $800, troll face copy and paste, 2022 bowman chrome baseball release date, matthew broderick illness, lafayette high school wildwood athletics, claire couvillion wedding registry, patrick mckenzie md net worth, , tony johnson obituary clovis nm,Related: samantha peszek husband, washington county police reports, springer mountain chicken recall, how to make him regret leaving you while pregnant, victoria quertermous gaetz wheelchair, mollie miles ken miles wife death, are banks open on patriots’ day 2021, can you carry a pocket knife in a casino, general manager salary country club, 3 day right of rescission florida real estate, knotless braids chicago, how do i use fenugreek to increase my breast size, ridgewood pool schedule, ann arbor mushroom dispensary, alexandra name puns,Related: rutgers ubhc staff directory, bail amounts by crime arizona, spanish funeral prayer cards, mark simone military service, how to change uber eats restaurant profile picture, amy blunt mosby, mechanical engineering jobs in oman for freshers, meeting hayden christensen, king charles spaniel breeders scotland, biotronik biomonitor mri safety, murrumbidgee river crocodiles, evolve gtr remote issues, penalty for riding unrestricted bike qld, how do i contact publix corporate, adams county circuit clerk warrant list,Related: tva rattrapage top modele, , used coin counting machines for sale, how to start my own acrylic powder line, bezos family foundation grant application, spring hill tn funeral home obituaries, map of us army bases in iraq, sugar hill lupine festival 2022, introducing a new doctor to the practice sample letter, orlando health team member connect, i am available tomorrow for interview, the galvin family documentary, jonathan kuminga vertical jump, lds missionary killed by companion, secco wine trader joe’s,Related: dave ramsey radio station dallas, 13821883d2d515dcf030ab818a111d66b9e6 kevin o’leary net worth 2022, pilot flying j employee handbook 2020, weaver curve head circumference calculator, wheeling university wrestling coach, does rfid blocking interfere with cell phone, cooper funeral home alexandria, ky, famous gangsters from kentucky, rock county jail roster, 1938 chevy for sale, gridlessness sarah age, is sourdough bread ok on slimming world, charlie ergen political party, novena prayer for the alcoholic to stop drinking alcohol, accident in burnsville, mn today,Related: center midfielder drills, shiny side up or down on aluminum foil smoking, sunjai williams baby father, sphynx cat rescue austin texas, kinetic energy of electron in bohr orbit formula, scfh to lpm, white clover tincture, breaking news tacoma police, mark angel net worth 2021, dixon trujillo age, what game do bakers like to play, marissa pick up line, johnson funeral home obituaries douglas georgia, mccoy funeral home obituaries palestine, texas, nieuw amsterdam cabins to avoid,Related: fairview park senior center newsletter, small pistol primers in stock now 2020, chilangos woodbury, tn menu, largest chicago private equity firms, can you drink coffee while taking xarelto, core concept of cecl model, pontefract castle tunnels, yeye osun white woman, marcellos pizza nutritional info, parc de maison mobile hollywood floride, edad de la esposa de nacho, classified staff appreciation week 2022, how to use google play points on iphone, mexican wedding lasso, matplotlib glyph missing from current font,

Who’s Responsible for Water Damage: Tenants or Landlords?

Posted by Teresa on August 16, 2012 under Lease and Rental Agreements | Be the First to Comment

Situation: Water pipe starts leaking in wall behind washer and dryer.
Who’s Responsible? Most likely, the landlord. It’s possible that an inside-the-wall leak won’t be noticed until water starts leaking out onto the floor, which could be hours or even days later. Landlords will generally be responsible for a leak like this, but if the tenants fail to inform the landlord immediately (ideally, in accordance with the terms of the lease), the tenant could be liable for a portion of the damages.

Situation: Tenant goes away on vacation and their house sitter leaves the tub faucet on until it overflows. Nobody notices for several hours, and there is damage to the floor, subfloor and ceiling of the unit below.
Who’s Responsible? The tenant is ultimately responsible for negligence damages to the rental property, regardless of whether or not he or she was there when it occurred. The tenant can then try to collect any loss from the house sitter. Hopefully, they have renter’s insurance. In any case, this is definitely not the landlord’s responsibility.

Situation: Toilet overflows.
Who’s Responsible? This might be another case that depends on the circumstances. If the pipes are damaged or root-clogged, it’s not the tenant’s fault. However, if the tenant clogs the toilet up and doesn’t attempt to clear the clog, it’s not the landlord’s fault.

How to Minimize the Chances of Water Damage

1. Show tenants the location of the water main shut-off valve. Teach them how to turn off the main water supply. Have tenants initial a clause in the lease that they have been shown where the main is, how to turn it off, and that they are responsible for water damages if they fail to do so (unless nobody is home when the leak starts).
2. Insist that all tenants carry a renter’s insurance policy. Many landlords require it, since without such protection, tenants can’t always afford to pay for repairs on the damages they cause to rental properties. If someone is injured on the property, such as from a tenant’s dog or from falling in the rental unit, the tenant’s policy will usually cover the damages, saving the landlord from having to submit a claim.
3. Supply a toilet plunger in each bathroom. They’re not expensive, and can prevent many headaches. Include a clause in the lease that the tenant must agree to plunge any clogs they cause or they will be responsible for subsequent damages.
4. Include in your lease that tenants must contact you immediately when they discover any water leaks. Give them an emergency contact number and make sure you are available at that number. Emphasize that tenants should not email this information—you must be notified immediately.
5. Consider installing drip pans in under-sink cabinets, in case pipes ever leak.

Water leaks and overflows are no fun. Every landlord knows leaks can cause major damages, such as rotted subflooring and drywall, warped wood flooring, mold and mildew. Preventing water damages whenever possible is in every landlord’s best interest.