Fred's Basic Rules For Rental Property 


Landlords and owners of rental properties should establish a set of rules for tenants to follow, as it will help make their job that much easier. Set them as part of the rental or lease agreement, as these rules may give you legal recourse in case a tenant gives you problems in the future. When setting the rules, make sure tenants understand them clearly, before they are allowed to move into your rental property. If tenants misuse or destroy your property, you will have legal recourse if needed. I use these rules and guidelines also to let my tenants know I run my rental business in a professional manner. My attitude is professional and this tells them I'm not a pushover of they break the rules

Lay down the rules for your rental property and enforce them fairly and with strict regularity, without any favouritism shown to any of your tenants. For example, if all tenant rental agreements carry the no pet clause, the rule must be enforced for all tenants without making an exception.

Ensure your rules cover the following:

Due date for rent and when it will begin to be considered as late rent. You need this rule to discourage tenants from being habitually late in paying rent. Set a penalty fee, if rent is not received by a certain date. The penalty charge can either be a percentage of the rent, or a fixed amount for each day the rent is not paid up in full.

Garbage removal and clutter. Apart from being unsanitary, uncollected and strewn garbage only serves to make your rental property look ill-maintained and shabby. 
Guidelines for cleanliness. A filthy apartment or building poses a health hazard, not only for the tenant in question, but for the others, as well. You don’t have to put up with slovenly tenants, simply set down the rules for cleanliness.

Pets and related policies. If, you are not averse to tenants keeping pets, state what pet animals will be allowed. For example, if you allow cats but not dogs, or limit the size of dogs that can be kept as pets, clearly state your preferences in the rental agreement.
Length of notice to vacate. Normally, landlords prefer tenants to give them a 30-day notice before moving out. You can decide on the time duration of notice to vacate, and whatever you decide, state it clearly in your rental agreement.

Lease-end restoration. Inform your tenants before they move in that they will have to restore their rental unit to the condition it was in, when they rented it from you. Ensure this is stated clearly in the rental or lease agreement to avoid misunderstandings when the rental or lease term is over.

Deposit information. Taking security deposits means tenants will have to be informed as to what will happen if they damage the unit they are renting. For example, if the wall is damaged and its costs you $100 to fix the gaping hole in it, emphasise the repair costs will be deducted from their initial deposit.

Setting these rules down helps ensure rental experiences are pleasant for both landlords and tenants. As well, rules will help the tenants know what they can and cannot get away with. As you know, a well-maintained and clean rental unit, along with well-behaved, responsible tenants means a better class of people will apply to rent your property. And, of course, careful selection and screening prospective tenants helps avoid later problems.

As recently as this year (2016), a Bellevue duplex I own, I notified a tenant to vacate at the end of their lease. The behavior and damage caused by their child along and interior damage  caused from curry grease which permeated the entire unit, I informed them they would not be receiving any portion of the damage deposit back because it exceeded their damage deposit amount. After the tenant threatened me with a lawsuit, I forwarded him photos and the original "move-in" checklist and informed him if we end up in court, I would be requesting damages above the amount of their deposit. They made the right decision to agree to my terms.

Most people are reasonable if presented with facts, but again, the key to avoiding problems in the future is proper screening and keeping an eye on your properties- Fred Grunewald

Over the years, I've developed many rules and guidelines for my tenants. I suggest you create your own custom rules and use them to create a professional atmosphere for your tenants.

Copyright 2016 FRED GRUNEWALD

Rules for Tenants