Sensible Information to Provide Tenants
“Put it in writing.” That’s the advice we hear most from landlords and property managers—and from lawyers! Certainly, spelling everything out in black and white is one way to clarify responsibilities, rules, and expectations for both sides of a relationship. Communicating clearly to your tenants from the start of your landlord/tenant relationship can help make things go more smoothly.
A Tenant Rights and Responsibilities Document should be part of a standard information packet provided to new tenants when they sign your lease or rental agreement.
Tenant Rights might include:
- Tenancy: where the tenant is allowed to live in your rental unit until they give proper notice of intent to move out, or until you move to evict for breaking the terms and conditions of the lease.
- Privacy: where you agree not to enter the tenant’s unit unless proper notice has been given, or in cases of emergency, or if the tenant agrees to allow you to enter the unit.
- Implied Warranty of Habitability: The rental unit will be kept in proper working order and all health and safety requirements will be met.
Tenant Responsibilities include:
- Paying rent on time
- Keeping the rental unit clean
- Repairing or reimbursing the landlord for damage to the unit caused by the tenant or guests
- Reporting improperly working systems, like plumbing leaks
- Following the rules established by the property owner regarding parking, noise, and use of common areas
Landlord Responsibilities include:
- Keeping vital services flowing, such as heat, electricity, and water, unless temporary shut-offs are required for repairs
- Following all federal, state, and local laws governing landlord/tenant contracts, including proper notice for eviction and lease renewal
- Not retaliating against a non-paying tenant by changing locks or damaging personal property
This simple document might be redundant, since some of these points might be made in your lease agreement, but it doesn’t hurt to reiterate such important information!