Rules & Regulations
I was wondering if anyone has already developed a rules and regulations addendum for your lease. I am trying to avoid some of my reoccuring issues by puttins some rules in writing. The topics for my rules so far are:
Garbage storage and removal
Cars - repairs and storage
cleanliness guidelines -
Yard Maintenance - lawn length, weeding...
Furnace Filter replacement
anyone have anything else?
My peeves:
Using the counter top for a cutting board- I hate knife scores in my counter tops.
Closing the glass doors on the fireplace when fire is burning- breaks glass and warps doors.
Dragging heavy furniture across wood floors- makes gouges that are hard to sand out.
Chris
Attachment A
Tenant Rules and Regulations
Policies agreed upon between the Landlord and the Tenants:
1. Park only on designated parking areas. Tenants or their guest shall not park on the grass of the property.
2. Window blinds and curtains (living room area) are provided. All other types of materials used as window treatments must be approved by the Landlord.
3. Any mildew formed in the bathroom is the responsibility of the Tenant to remove and keep clean.
4. If any water on the bathroom floor that causes damage to the floors, walls, or ceilings, the repair will be charged to the Tenant.
5. All personal property must be kept inside the apartment. No personal property can be stored in the halls/foyer or outside the building.
6. No wax or wood oils of any kind to be placed on wood floors.
7. No parties of any kind shall be conducted on this property during the term of the Lease.
8. Fire codes prohibits use of gas charcoal grills within 15 feet from the property.
9. This is a nonsmoking apartment. Tenants and their guests are not allowed to smoke inside the apartment or anywhere inside the property.
10. Any holes from pictures on walls will be repaired by the Landlord at the end of the Lease. Use small nails only, no tape and/or glue.
11. Tenants are responsible for checking and maintaining batteries in the smoke alarm(s) at all times. The alarm(s) cannot be removed at any time. If a smoke alarm should stop working, the Tenant must notify the Landlord IN WRITING as soon as possible.
12. Trash must be placed in sealed containers at the street curb by 7:00a.m. on the pickup day (Monday). Cans are to be removed from the curb the day of pickup, after pickup. If not removed, $25.00 fine will be charged to the Tenant.
13. Renter’s Insurance is very affordable and is STRONGLY ENCOUAGED. Landlord is not liable/responsible for Tenant’s personal property.
14. Landlord will check the exterior of the exterior of the property on a monthly basis. A service charge of $25.00 will be charged to the Tenant for any violation of agreed policies.
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Date Landlord
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Date Tenant
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Date Tenant
If you screen the prospective tenant carefully, it should reduce the potential problem. Be sure to call the past couple landlords, check there credit, employment, etc. I have been told more stories from tenants then I care to relate. I still thoroughly screen them. I almost rented to a really nice couple, but they failed the screening terribly - they had bounced the rent check to the current landlord 2 of the last 3 months and it was in their parents name instead of theirs because they had such bad credit.......
I have never found the screening effort to be a waste of time. I also tend to charge a little under market rent, but require a slightly higher then market deposit (about 1 1/2 times rent). The law allows 2X rent, but that would shrink my pool of renters dramatically.[ Edited by finniganps on Date 02/02/2007 ]
If the security is the same amount as the rent in the mind of the tenant you are asking for this. It just seems so "natural"
1) It is written into the lease. No exceptions.
2) My security deposit is 1.5 times more than the monthly rent.
3) Once the vacate day is agreed to in writing, each day over has a penalty fee deducted from the security deposit.
4) Always cary yourself with a professional, no BS demeanor. It is not necessary to be an ogre but you do not want to be their friend either. If you HAVE to choose be the ogre.
5) Strictly adhere to the provisions of your lease.
I agree with finnigan. If you have done the prescreening well before you rent this will not be an issue. I only rent to people that have a good enough job that I can garnish their wages with a judgement. If they try to use their security for last months rent then I get nasty on this point and describe the extra legal fees that they will be paying out of their checks. Usually I never have to acutually go to court and get paid.